Restoration starts on chapel with no aisle

St Cecilia chapel in Għajnsielem, one of the best surviving examples of a chapel without aisle, albeit partly dilapidated, is being restored.

Architectural surveys were undertaken to determine the extent of the work that will be needed, especially because the late mediaeval chapel has great historic and architectural value.

Two of the walls which had collapsed are being rebuilt using old photos as guidelines and the stones salvaged from the site.

The restoration job will also include the refurbishment of the façade and a room next to the chapel, which is thought to have originally served as a sacristy.

The interior of the chapel is supported by huge arches under which a temporary stone structure was built to support both the weight of arches and the roof. This helped ease the excess lateral stress on the external walls. This provisional structure will eventually be removed as the original arches will be repaired and restored.

The walls, which had been severely damaged by fire, will be cleaned and re-conditioned to their original state.

The works on the St Cecilia chapel restoration project, carried out and funded by the Baron Group, are expected to be completed by June.