Gnien Tal-Kmand

Ball, Sir Alexander John, 1ST BARONET was born in 1757 in Gloucestershire, England. A rear admiral and close friend of Admiral Lord Nelson, Ball directed the blockade of Malta and served as civil commissioner (governor) of the island between 1802 and 1809.

Ball served under Admiral Sir George Rodney in the West Indies and was present at Rodney's great victory over the French off Dominica on April 12, 1782. Promoted to captain in 1783, Ball did not receive his first command until 1790. On May 20, 1798, he saved Lord Nelson's flagship from running ashore after being dismasted in a storm and the two became close friends.

On Feb. 9, 1799, while he was blockading Malta (1798-1800), the island's legislature elected him president and commander in chief. After the French had surrendered Malta in September 1800, the British Admiralty withheld Ball from naval service, despite Nelson's plea in his favour.

He was created a baronet in 1801 and then was made governor of Malta, where he remained the rest of his life. Ball died on the 25th October 1809 and is buried in Malta.

As governor of Malta, Ball was much loved by the Maltese people, that it is said that his portrait hung in many of their homes. His love for nature brought about the building of a number of gardens for use by the village’s temporary Lieutenant or Mayor’s in a good number of Maltese localities.

These gardens, often referred to as “IL-Gnien tal-Kmand”, were build at Qrendi, Mqabba, Ghaxaq, Gudja, Zejtun, Gharghur, Safi (Known as il-Gnien ta’ Ball) and Lija.

Although no official record exists, it is presumed that the Gniem Tal-Kmand and other such gardens was build between 1802 and 1809.

Extracts from an inventory of Crown Property that was carried out in 1862 is reproduced below:-

DESCRIPTION PLANS OF THE CROWN PROPERTY IN MALTA AND ITS DEPENDENCIES.
SURVEYED UNDER THE ADMINISTRATION OF
GENERAL SIR CASPER LE MERCHANT G.C.M.G.;
GOVERNER AND COMANDER IN CHIEF.

Plan of the tal-Kmand Gardens situated at Qrendi, consisting of two adjacent parts A & B.

The first part, which has the main entrance and closed by boundary fences, is subdivided into two portions, is destined for the cultivation of oranges.

The walls of this portion marked A are also lined with orange trees and palm trees spaced 4’ 2’ apart in runs parallel to a path, whose internal side is interrupted by a door that leads to the second part B, and finishes in a circle arc.

In one of these portions there are fifty five orange and ten olives trees whilst in the other, forty one oranges, twelve lemons, nine olives, three pear and two pomegranates trees are found.

The second portion marked part B is at the far end of the path and is divided in two portions; the western portion which is the major part is destined for the culture of prickly pears, and has a reservoir, nine lemon orange, one pomegranates, three figs, sixteen olives and four lemon trees. The other portion is destined partly for horticulture and has a reservoir with some prickly pears, eleven lemon orange, two lemons, six fig, fourteen olives, one medlar (Naspli) and one plum tree.

Moreover, these two portions have one small door leading to the street and to part A. by means of the two doors found in the longitudinal walls of the fence mentioned above.

The garden is cared for by Apap and Ellul

QUESTO GIARDINO FU COMINCIATO E TERMINATO
SOTTO L’AMMINISTRAZIONE DEL CAV E BARONETTO
ALESSANDRO GIVANNI BALL
PER
GIORGIO TERZO
RE DELLA GRAN BRETTAGNA
GOVERNANTE
LE ISOLA DI MALTA E GOZO
ALL’ USO DEI LUGOENENTI TEMPORANEI DEL CASALE
IL LUOGO E IN PERPETUO CONSECRATO

THIS GARDEN WAS STARTED AND COMPLETED
UNDER THE ADMINISTRATION OF KNIGHT AND BARONET
ALEXANDER JOHN BALL
FOR
GEORGE III
KING OF GREAT BRITIAN
GOVERNER
OF THE ISLANDS OF MALTA AND GOZO
FOR USE BY THE VILLAGE’S TEMPORARY LIEUTENANTS
IN EVERLASTING SACRED MEMORY

Aerial Photograph of “Il-Gnien tal-Kmand”