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Restoration Report - Stanley Farrugia Randon
from Vigilo 56
by dinlarthelwa
Restoration Report
Stanley Farrugia Randon
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The Din l-Art Ħelwa Restoration and Maintenance Committee is composed of Maria Grazia Cassar, Josie Ellul Mercer and myself. However our efforts are useless without the help and advice of the rest of the committee. Without the hard work of our Treasurer Martin Scicluna, Secretary General Simone Mizzi and our Office Manager Rosanne Zerafa, Din l-Art Ħelwa would be unable to obtain the necessary funding for such projects.
When I joined Din l-Art Ħelwa 30 years ago, my first involvement, besides reactivating the Youth Section, was to manage restoration projects. Since then the restoration of properties has become a very complicated matter. Before restoration of a site actually begins, a number of steps have to be followed. First of all, the association has to secure funding from a private entity or perhaps EU funding. In the latter case a load of paperwork has to be prepared. The sites managed by Din l-Art Ħelwa are mostly scheduled as Grade 1 properties, so their restoration requires a full development permit from the Planning Authority. This involves site visits with architects and contractors, condition reports, method statements, bills of quantities and site plans. Permits take months to be issued and often the Planning Authority and Superintendence of Cultural Heritage request more information. When a commencement notice for works is issued, talks are also held with health and safety officers as this is a legal prerequisite. These procedures are necessary but also very time consuming especially for us volunteers.
Less than five years ago the Wignacourt Tower in St Paul’s Bay was restored by ERDF funds obtained by the Malta Tourism Authority. However the lime-based pointing started to weather off after two years and this summer the lower three metres of all four elevations had to be extensively repointed. The facade of the tower lost most of its pointing and more maintenance work had to be conducted including on the upper floor.
Now that the restoration of the White Tower and battery in Mellieħa is complete, the restoration team started planning the installation of toilet facilities and furniture for the place to be used for short lets and accomodation. Thanks to the hard work of Rosanne Zerafa and Simone Mizzi, the restoration team obtained funds from the Post-Pandemic Support Scheme for Cultural Heritage issued by the Ministry for National Heritage, the Arts and Local Government, for two dormitories with beds and cupboards, sanitary facilities, a kitchenette, doors, seating facilities and tables. The tower will now be able to accomodate groups of people who can conduct educational activities.
u Għallis Tower
Għallis tower is one of the thirteen towers built during the reign of Grand Master De Rohan and unfortunately it is no longer a prominent feature on the coast road from Salini to Baħar-iċ-Ċagħaq since a high wall was erected along parts of the road. In 2017 Din l-Art Ħelwa applied to the Planning Authority for the restoration of the external walls of Għallis Tower and we are now in possession of a permit and funds from GalMajjistral Foundation. Restoration will include pointing of the walls and the changing of some stones. The batteries of the solar panels also need replacement. These are needed to light the external façades as well as the interior of the tower as there is no direct electricity supply to the tower.
Wignacourt Tower restoration works
u The Mamo
Tower
Din l-Art Ħelwa has been granted GalXlokk Foundation funds to be spent on the restoration of the external façades of Torri Mamo in Marsascala. These will be used entirely for the replacement of grossly deteriorated stonework on the external façades. Din l-Art Ħelwa already has a valid Planning Authority permit and meetings are being held between the architect, contractor and the Superintendence of Cultural Heritage.
The original entrance to the garden needed urgent attention. Some stonework needed replacement, pointing, plasticrepair in places, and fibreglass dowels were used to fix stones which were broken but which did not require changing. The metal gate was cleaned to remove loose paint and repainted by volunteers. The gate frame was galvanised and stainless steel fittings used.
