Press Release

Fondazzjoni Wirt Artna - the Malta Heritage Trust has formally written to the Planning Authority to object to development application PA/08237/25 concerning the proposed conversion of Villa Careel at 3, Triq il-Karmnu with Triq Sant'Anglu, San Giljan into a guest house and the building of two apartment blocks in its mature and spacious garden.

Villa Careel stands at the heart of St. Julian's Urban Conservation Area. Besides being a traditional Maltese mansion of great architectural importance it also has a very important history having been the residence to the bigger than life British military officer - Colonel Ede 4th Hussars and MI5 (the British domestic counter-intelligence and security agency) between 1933 and 1942. Ede was Malta's Defence Security Officer responsible from internal security during the first half of the Second World War. The house also has a large mature garden which is one of the few green areas left in overbuilt St. Julians.

Despite being the official residence of the DSO, Villa Careel also known as the "Secret House" was regularly used by the various British military intelligence branches in local and overseas espionage work and subversive operations in French North Africa and Italy. A radio listening station was kept in its garden. During the war, interrogations of suspect enemy agents were known to have been conducted there away from the prying eyes of the public.

In 1932, the St. Julian's branch of the Scouts movement was formed in this house

FWA is appealing that given its high architectural and historic merit and its forming part of the UCA in St. Julian's this property along with its mature garden are offered the highest possible protection and saved from development. Instead, a more sympathetic use is to be encouraged.