Minister for the National Heritage, the Arts and Local Government Owen Bonnici visited the ongoing restoration works on the Chapel of Our Lady of Light situated in Ħaż-Żebbug, Malta.
This chapel is one of the thirteen projects chose following the most recent Local Councils Scheme and the project was proposed by the Żebbug Local Council itself. The project kicked off in September 2023 and all the works, starting from site documentation to Planning permit applications, to subsequent site works were and will be carried out by the Restoration and Preservation Department.
Minister Bonnici stated that these restoration projects within the various communities are looked upon very favourably by the residents. He said that the projects completed over the years as part of this scheme have varied in nature and scale, ranging from small projects like traditional village crosses or statues to medium-scale endeavours involving historic buildings and monuments dating back to the times of the Knights of St John.
Dr Bonnici stated that the Government is fully committed to safeguarding and restoring our patrimony, including those which are found in the communities.
Architect Audrey Ann Bonnici explained that the interventions being carried out mainly consist in: the cleaning of the façade and bell tower from biological growth, black crust, numerous metal inserts, accretions and other superficial deposits, pointing of open joints with a lime-based mortar, removal of renders from the lower courses of the façade, replacement of deteriorated stone, especially in the lower courses of the facade, closing of cracks to stop water infiltration in the bell tower, structural Consolidation of lintels, reconstruction of missing parts with plastic repair and the restoration of apertures.
The Chapel dedicated to Our Lady of Light, is one of the oldest chapels in Ħaż-Żebbug and it was built in 1736. Before this chapel, there was another one. During war, the chapel managed to escape a direct hit, as a bomb fell nearby and did not explode. Unfortunately, the chapel, especially the bell tower, still suffered a lot of damage when the bomb was detonated on the spot. Works were immediately carried out to reconstruct the damaged parts.
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