The last phase of restoration work is under way on the inside of the chapel of Our Lady of Sorrows in Pieta’.

In April 2001, studies were carried out over a one-and-a-half-year period, that focused on the amount of humidity in the walls of the chapel and the way this varied during the year.

While these studies were being carried out, thick layers of cement, tar and jablo, as well as layers of plaster, were removed. These materials had been used over the years in order to combat the humidity, but a lot of harm had been caused to the stone, because the materials closed the pores and the stone eroded at a faster rate.

When he visited the chapel yesterday, Resources and Infrastructure Minister Ninu Zammit explained that a lot of work had also been carried out to prevent water from seeping through the walls of the chapel. This work included the digging of a trench at the rear of the chapel and water-proofing the roof, as well as digging test holes to ascertain whether there were any closed reservoirs in the surrounding area.

In order to ensure that rain water did not penetrate the chapel, a six-foot canal was dug around it, which was then covered with very small pieces of stone after special netting, known as a “geotextile”, was placed on it.

The studies concluded that due to the substantial amount of humidity in the walls, the only way to conserve the chapel was to apply a macro porous plaster consisting of thick plastering known as a sacrificial layer. This process started at the beginning of the year and led to various architectural features being uncovered and later restored.

Mr Zammit said that such work requires a great deal of dedication and specialisation. Similar work has been carried out on statues such as those of St Mary and Our Lady of Lourdes in Qrendi and St Joseph in Lija. Similar work has also been carried out on the balcony of the President’s Palace in Valletta and on the recently restored statue of St Laurence in Vittoriosa.

The total cost of the restoration work at the Chapel of Our Lady of Sorrows is Lm22,000. The Archbishop’s Curia will be paying for the material, which amounts to Lm10,000 of the total.

It is expected that the restoration work will be completed by the end of September.