The works for this project involved the restoration of the various blocks situated in the Caraffa Enceinte along the bastion walls forming upper St. Elmo. These blocks date mostly from the late 1800s, and include the final resting place of Sir Alexander Ball. Other later structures were added most likely before World War II. The interventions therefore included the much older bastion walls forming upper St Elmo pre‐dating the founding of Valletta in the time of the Order of St John. More challenging interventions were needed on the steel and concrete gun emplacements, heavily utilised during the war. These gun emplacements were composed of large steel sections and had to be restored on site, meaning that most of the surrounding stone masonry had to be carefully dismantled, numbered, and eventually reinstated, after as much as possible of the steel work was grit blasted and protected with a paint system.

Not all of the steel could be accessed because some parts were cast within thick sections of concrete, which could not be dismantled. The repairs to the concrete was very interesting since probably for the first time on such a large scale, available technologies were applied to historic and protected structures.

The contractors for this project were a joint venture formed by Agius Stoneworks, Camray, Vassallo Builders, and Vaults (calling themselves C.A.V.V. Joint Venture). Our office was engaged as their project manager and restoration consultants. Tight co‐ordination and technical guidance was needed by the consortium.