Restoration silences Citadel bells

The Citadel clock bells in Gozo, which have been chiming time in their present location since 1858, will go silent while undergoing restoration.

The oldest of the two bells is the quarter strike bell, which is attributed to the early 18th century founders Luca and Mederico Menville of the Ferreria of the Order of St John.

The hour strike bell bearing the date 1819 is attributed to the Sicilian bell-founder Ferdinando Leotta who worked alongside his brother Sebastiano in Ghajn Dwieli after the Ferreria of the Order was closed down when the French expelled the Order from Malta.

Restoration work on the bells will be carried out by campanologist Kenneth Cauchi.

A third bell of smaller dimensions, previously belonging to the Order's hospital in Victoria and recently removed from the Gozo general hospital, will also undergo restoration.

Maintenance work will be carried out on the roof structure of the clock turret and time movement and chiming mechanism by employees of the Department of Projects and Development of the Ministry for Gozo.