Restoration Report – Stanley Farrugia Randon

Restoration Report

Stanley Farrugia Randon

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 (who resigned from this post in February due to other commitments), 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.

u Għallis Tower

In 2017 Din l-Art Ħelwa applied to the Planning Authority for the restoration of the external walls of Għallis Tower. Thanks to Gal Majjistral Foundation, Din l-Art Ħelwa obtained funding to start and complete works on this seventeenth-century watchtower (see p. 48–49). Works involved some changing of stones, the pointing of all the external walls, changing of the batteries of the solar panels, restoration of the metal gate on the upper floor and pointing of the internal walls. The solar panels provide electricity to light the external walls as well as the interior of the tower.

u Ħal Millieri Chapel

Once more part of the rubble wall surrounding the pathway in front of the medieval chapel of Ħal Millieri collapsed following bad weather. This had to be repaired. Three of our properties—Mamo Tower, Ħal Millieri chapel and the White Tower—are partly surrounded by rubble walls which require frequent and costly maintenance.

u Dwejra Tower

Thanks to European Union funds obtained through the Malta Tourism Authority, Din l-Art Ħelwa started the restoration of the Dwejra Tower in Gozo. The front elevation is nearly completed and involved extensive pointing as well as some stone replacement. This tower is especially exposed to the elements and is often in need of restoration.

u The White Tower

Now that the restoration of the White Tower and Battery in Mellieħa is complete, the restoration team has started working on the installation of the toilet facilities and furniture for the place to be used for short letting and accommodation. Thanks to the hard work of Rosanne Zerafa and Simone Mizzi, the restoration team obtained funds from the PostPandemic 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 accommodate groups of people for educational activities. The Malta Tourism Authority has also offered us funds to install stainless steel security wire railings on the roof. The roof is the area preferred by visitors to take photos, and so it is of utmost importance that it is rendered safe for everyone.

u Torri

Mamo

Din l-Art Ħelwa has been granted funds from GalXlokk Foundation to be spent on the restoration of the external facades of Torri Mamo (see p. 52). Restoration of the tower was completed in February. This involved some changing of grossly deteriorated stones as well as pointing of various parts of the tower external walls.

u Future Projects

Din l-Art Ħelwa is still working on obtaining permission to restore San Ċir Chapel near Rabat, the Vendome Redoubt in Marsaxlokk, the Australian Bungalow presently located in Għammieri, and the Qolla l-Bajda Battery in Qbajjar, Gozo. Din l-Art Ħelwa has been trying to convince the authorities to hand over these properties to the organisation for years, and in the meantime they are suffering more deterioration. We are also interested in restoring the Marfa (Wied Musa) Battery and Ir-Razzett taxXitan in Mellieħa. Bureaucratic issues hinder the granting of heritage sites to NGOs in Guardianship.

Din l-Art Ħelwa is very disappointed about the unreasonable and exaggerated delays in the concluding of Guardianship Deeds, leaving the organisation without answers for many months notwithstanding it having carried out the required studies, acquired the necessary permits and found funds for restoration. And these places continue to deteriorate!