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The Verdala Story. Junior Historians at work. History Optional Year 10 Students Lorelai Jake Nour.
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The Verdala Story Junior Historians at work. History Optional Year 10 Students Lorelai Jake Nour
During the Great Siege of Malta the Turks dragged their cannons up St. Margherita Hill so that they could fire on Fort St. Michael and at St. Angelo. Our school is situated on top of this hill. On December 30th 1638 the first stone of the Firenzuola Lines was laid. These later became known as the Margherita Lines. The oldest part of these walls is the Verdala Gate opposite the schools entrance. In 1853 the British decided to build the Verdala Barracks behind the old Verdala Gate. They also decided to build a big fortress in front of the barracks. This is the whole area on which the school now stands.
In 1924 Verdala became a Malta Government Elementary School. There was a Dockyard class and the students eventually worked in the naval dockyard. Around 1948 Verdala School was opened for the children of British servicemen as an extension of the British school at ‘tal-Handaq’ in Qormi.. After a short closure in 1972, the Verdala British School reopened after an agreement between the Maltese and British Governments. In June 1977 the school became the International School of Malta catering for those students whose parents were in the oil exploration field. In 1978 the school changed its name to The Verdala School of Malta.
It was now also open for Maltese students. Eventually the name of the school was changed to Verdala International School. In September 1984 the Verdala Boys Secondary opened for those ex-private school students whose parents had opted for a Government School. In 1985 the Verdala Junior Lyceum was opened for those students who passed from the national exams set at the end of primary level. In the 21st century it became St. Margaret College Boys Secondary. Today it is St. Margaret College Secondary School Verdala.
During its history the school premises have served as a fortress, barracks for various British regiments, stores for gunpowder and ammunition, offices for the Royal Army Education Corps, home for the White Russian Officers who had escaped from the revolution in Russia, refuge for Greek refugees of an earthquake disaster, supply stores for the dockyard and the three services - Navy, Army and Air Force, home for Royal Navy families during World War 2, a prisoner-of-war camp and a naval detention centre.
