My wife's ancestors - Maltass - Contents

"The Big House", Bornova

"The Big House", on the S side of Gençlik Caddesi, Bornova (formerly Bournabat), NE side of Izmir (formerly Smyrna), Turkey.
This was originally an 18th century convent (or "monastery").
Gertrude Bell in 1902 said the garden was then "200 years old".

It was purchased by the European Whittall family in 1820.
Whittall family home for generations.
It was purchased by James Whittall, who died relatively young.
Then the home of his brother Charlton Whittall.
Charlton entertained King Otto of Greece there in 1833.
He entertained the Ottoman Sultan Abdulaziz there in 1863.
He died in 1867.
It was the residence of his son James Whittall.
He died 1883.
Then the home of his son Herbert Whittall.
Gertrude Bell visited him there in 1902.
Herbert Whittall supported the Greeks. He entertained Prince Andrew of Greece there in 1921.
Herbert Whittall fled Turkey after the defeat of the Greeks in Smyrna in 1922.

The Big House was sold to the Giraud family.
Norman Giraud was living there in 1927 and 1932.
It seems the Giraud family had left by 1936.

The Big House is now owned by Ege University, Izmir.
It is the Rektörlük or Rektörlügü (the rectorate), the headquarters of the Rektör, or Chancellor, of Ege University.
See [Kalcas, 1983, pp.19-20].
See levantineheritage.com.
See erolsasmaz.com.

The Big House, Bornova (now The Rektörlük).
See full size. Formerly here.

Location

Location of "The Big House" (the Rektörlügü, red marker) on the S side of the Gençlik Caddesi (Gençlik Road).
And the John Maltass House on the N side of the road.
The gate of the John Maltass House is at the junction to the W of the house.
From Google Maps.

The John Maltass House (front) and The Big House (back).
From 2024 video.

Old photos

The Big House, c.1900.
From Levantine Heritage. Used with permission.

Modern photos

The Big House, Bornova (now The Rektörlük).
From here at wowturkey.com.

The Big House, Bornova.
From Levantine Heritage. Used with permission.

The Big House, Bornova (now The Rektörlük).
From here at wowturkey.com.

The Big House, Bornova.
From Levantine Heritage. Used with permission.