National trust takes over 19th century landmark

The Malta Maritime Authority has decided to entrust the Delimara lighthouse, currently an unoccupied landmark, to Din l-Art Helwa.

Constructed in 1854, a few years after the building of the Ta' Giordan lighthouse in Gozo, the one in Delimara is in a rather good state of conservation but needs general maintenance and restoration work to preserve it and make it accessible to the public.

Communications Minister Censu Galea said the Malta Maritime Authority was allocating the sum of Lm13,000 to Din l-Art Helwa to assist it in carrying out the necessary infrastructural works on the building.

Thanking the MMA for its support and the tangible appreciation towards Malta's historical heritage, Din l-Art Helwa president Martin Galea described the project as a very ambitious one which will be carried out in two distinct phases.

"Phase one will entail the restoration of the entire fabric of the lighthouse. This includes repairing the damaged walls, the roof and the tower/lantern that are in a moderate state of conservation. Missing timber apertures will also have to be replaced.

"The restoration of the lantern machinery of the lighthouse will be carried out in phase two. Further study is required as to which parts should be retained and what needs to be replaced and the works to be incorporated in phase two will be dependent on extensive research regarding the lighthouse lantern machinery and its mechanism."

The need for a new lighthouse at Delimara point was felt round about 1850 and the actual construction works commenced in 1854 under Governor O'Ferrall as indicated on the first plans of the lighthouse. It was completed a year later.

Until 1896, the lighthouse boasted a static red lantern but this was then replaced by a more powerful gasoline lamp, operated by a hand wound mechanism that produced beams of alternating red and white light flashed at intervals of 30 seconds. Its arc of visibility ranged from a bearing of 19 to 295 degrees up to a range of 19 nautical miles.

The lighthouse served as a point of reference for all merchant ships in the vicinity aiding them to determine their position on the map especially during the night. The lighthouse guardian reported all maritime traffic approaching Malta. The guardian and his assistant were in charge of the lighthouse.