Windmills at Hastings Garden

I was very pleased to hear that Hastings Garden in Valletta is being redesigned and embellished.

On St Michael's Bastion, in this same garden, there used to be several windmills overlooking Marsamuscetto harbour. Unfortunately, these were subsequently removed and only the name of the adjacent street, Windmills Street, remains as a reminder.

The windmills were erected by Fondazione Cotoner to enable Valletta, a fortified city, to better withstand a siege (The knights had several granaries and water reservoirs built inside the city for this same reason). The windmills were there for the production of flour. One can still see old paintings of them standing out majestically over Marsamuscetto harbour.

Expenses for the reconstruction of even one windmill could be recovered by renting it out as a kiosk, cafeteria, souvenir shop etc.

Another landmark in this area is Ponsonby's monument. This 70-foot high column was erected in 1838 to the memory of Governor Sir Frederick Cavendish Ponsonby. Unfortunately, the column was struck down by lightning in 1864. Only its plinth remains. This was later transferred to its present site at Hastings Garden. Re-erecting this conspicuous column would enhance the garden and could be viewed from miles around.

Worth considering for our magnificent city?