Denis A. Darmanin, Valletta
Restoration of Fort St Angelo
The stones from St Angelo at Fort Ricasoli, c1999.
Architect Ruben Abela and his small team of dedicated workers from Heritage Malta are to be congratulated for the work they’re doing at Fort St Angelo (September 4), especially on the ramp and the clearance of rubble to uncover the drop-ditch and the arch spanning it to the main gate. Having had the pleasure of viewing the excavations, I would like to add a few words concerning some of the material since uncovered.
A number of hard stone blocks of a reasonable size (vażi) were among the rubble removed from the ditch beneath the bridge and were placed aside for safe storage. As we know, both the fort’s gatehouse and the orillion on d’Homedes Bastion were badly damaged by Axis bombs during World War II. The British naval authorities did not repair these two breaches and just made rudimentary patching until the damaged orillion was repaired when Ugo Mifsud Bonnici was Minister of Education and Culture.
Due to their durability, blocks of coralline limestone or hard stone (ġebel tal-qawwi) were used on the fort’s outer skin because they could withstand more to bombardment.
Therefore, since these blocks were uncovered in the proximity of these two war-damaged sections, one can easily assume that it’s there they had originated from.
Another fact I wish to recall is that the façade of the curtain from d’Homedes Bastion and Fort St Angelo’s main gate had collapsed back in the early 1980s. It was later rebuilt but, unfortunately, globigerina limestone (tal-franka) was used instead. Luckily, these stones, which happen to be of identical material as those uncovered recently, were not dumped but placed in a pile inside Fort Ricasoli.
The space they occupied was required due to the building of a film set but I had personally informed the production of their historical value and to be placed at a safer distance.
I believe these stones are still within the fort and should be identified, collected and safely stored to be used in St Angelo’s restoration project.
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victor pulis
Sep 9th 2010, 10:23
This is very interesting reading especially the part concerning the whereabouts of the stone from the fort's facade. I was witness to the collapse of the curtain wall that stormy morning and I have always wondered where the rubble ended up. To add further, the five windows seen today in this curtain wall did not exist prior to the collapse and were added when the wall was rebuilt in globigerina limestone. I agree that this part of the wall should be restored to its former look using the original stone. Finally may I point out that the part of d'Homedes bastion facing the bridge was repaired by the British and Minister Mifsud Bonnici was instrumental in repairing the part on the main gate side.
Edward J Schranz
Sep 8th 2010, 16:25
Keep up the good work. It's nice to hear about all these restoration initiatives. One can only appreciate these structures when living around concrete multistory jungles for over forty years. Years ago when I worked for the Engineer Valletta (PWD) we did repairs and maintenance to various bastions in Valletta, Floriana (gnien tal milorda) etc and also St John's Cathedral, The Palace and the church at the bottom of Merchant's Street (War Damaged - the name escapes me) but money was very limited. We had other priorities in those days. Like the pyramids, these structures will atttract tourism and monies could be used for their upkeep (keeping bushes, small trees and kappar plants away from their bedding joints preventing deterioration). Beaches won't be enough to keep the tourists coming especially when other countries in the Med are going full steam on developement of beaches, marinas etc. This is the feedback we get on this side of the ocean from tourists who visited Malta. Again, keep up the good work as it's of paramount importance.
victor pulis
Sep 9th 2010, 10:54
I totally concur with Mr. Schranz.The only advantage over our competitors in the tourist industry is our history and culture. Almast all of our rivals in the Mediterranean have bigger, cleaner beaches, they all enjoy a similar climate to ours and they all have a rich albeit different history of their own. perhaps the difference is that they appreciate it more than we do ours. Malta has more history packed into it proportionate to its size than any other country. We are the custodians of world heritage sites which belong to the whole of mankind.
l fenech
Sep 8th 2010, 11:17
I am still of the opinion that a second mess is being made by the same government at the Valletta entrance by not restoring to original the Theatre and wastilng good space for a parliament to accomode 55 people. Piano is an un imaginative for the needs of our old and historic city and shame on the govenment on this ill placed project.
A. Zahra
Sep 8th 2010, 14:53
The original theatre was and still is much too small for opera etc. Stop dreaming.