Mulling about mills

A book in Maltese about one of the country’s only two surviving windmills has been published.

Out of around 75 windmills built around the Maltese Islands only two survived

Out of around 75 windmills built during the time of the Knights and when the Maltese Islands were under British rule, only two survived.

One is in Żurrieq known as Il-Mitħna tax-Xarolla and another in Xagħra known as Il-Mitħna ta’ Kola.

Clifford Vella published his first book in October 2010 under the title Ta’ Kola Windmill The Best Preserved Windmill in Gozo, which focused on that particular windmill in Gozo.

Last June, Vella published his second publication, titled L-Imtieħen tat-Tħin tal-Qamħ fil-Gżejjer Maltin. This book centres on the history of all the windmills around the Maltese Islands.

Made up of 230 pages, every chapter is dedicated to a particular town or village where windmills could be found.

The book contains information about millers, how much the mills were rented out for and even some events that took place inside them.

One can even see the plans of most of the windmills, some of which date back between 150 to 300 years as well as some old photos of windmills that date back about 100 years.

The book also supplies detailed information about animal mills, steam mills and civil defence mills.

L-Imtieħen tat-Tħin tal-Qamħ fil-Gżejjer Maltin also includes information about the exterior and interior machinery of the windmill and how the Maltese loaf used to be made.

Copies are available from the author. Contact him directly on 9947 7906 or c2vella@go.net.mt.