Heritage Malta said today that it is in the final stages of restoration of Ta' Kola windmill including the installation of its vanes and parts of the internal mechanism.
The windmill, in Xagħra, Gozo, was damaged by the weather some years ago.
A conservation analysis that was conducted on the mechanism’s internal woodwork found that a number of areas were suffering from advanced deterioration that was in some cases jeopardizing the structural stability of the mill tower. The particular wood required for this project could not be supplied locally and had to be imported.
"Works on the reconstruction and restoration of the internal mechanism are now in their final phase of completion. In the past few days, the windmill mechanism was dismantled in order to carry out repair and restoration works on the elements to be retained and integrate the newly produced sections. In the meantime, general maintenance works will be carried out on the tower's internal stonework. Heritage Malta is ensuring that restoration works are carried out to the highest standards whilst aiming to return the windmill to its original operational condition. It is envisaged that works will be concluded before the end of the year," Heritage Malta said.
Ta’ Kola Windmill is one of the few surviving windmills on the Maltese Islands dating back to the Knights’ Period. The origins of Ta’ Kola Windmill go back to the 18th century during the magistracy of Grand Master Manoel de Vilhena. This windmill changed hands several times up to the early 20th century when it came into ownership of the Grech family, an established family of millers who continued to run the windmill up the 1980s.
