Ponsonby's Column: A Glimpse into Valletta's Past

Ponsonby's Column, though no longer standing in its full form, holds a significant place in Valletta's history. The column was built in 1838 to honor Major-General Sir Frederick Cavendish Ponsonby, who served as the Governor of Malta. Ponsonby, an Anglo-Irish aristocrat, was appointed Governor on February 15, 1827, and resigned in 1836 while in England. He passed away suddenly on January 11 of the following year.The monument, also known as Ponsonby's Cenotaph, originally stood 70 feet high on St. Andrew's Bastion, offering views of Marsamxett Harbour. Its design featured a Doric column topped with an urn. An inscription in Latin read: "FREDERICO CAVENDISH PONSONBY MELITAE AN. IX. PRAEFECTO CIVIUM AMOR MDCCCXXXVIII," which translates to "To Frederick Cavendish Ponsonby, for nine years Governor of Malta, from the love of the citizens, 1838".In January 1864, lightning struck the column, leading to its demolition. The plinth survived and was moved in November 1888 to St. Michael's Bastion, near Hastings Gardens, to make way for new gun emplacements. An inscription was added to the plinth, noting the column's destruction by lightning. The plinth suffered damage during World War II but has been restored several times, most recently in 2013 with sponsorship from the Bank of Valletta. Today, the plinth is a Grade 1 national monument. While only the base of the column remains, it serves as a reminder of Malta's colonial past and the figures who shaped its destiny.