One
of the landmarks of Xaghra to be seen from
afar is the Windmill of Ta' Kola, lying a
few scores of metres away from the Church
to the north west and a walking distance
away from the Ggantija Temples lying to the
South. It lies on the highest point on Xaghra
plateau and acquired its name after Nikola
or Kola (in short) Grech, the miller who
took it over early in the 20th Century.
It was built in 1725, one of twelve windmills
built by the Knights of Malta under Grand Master
Manoel de Vilhena. The last of the millers’ family
was Joseph Grech who was known as Zeppu Kola,
who passed away on 27 February 1987. It is
thanks to him and later to the Museum Authorities
that today, Ta' Kola Windmill is still in a
good working condition. Now, under the care
of Heritage Malta, the future of the Windmill
is guaranteed and the people of Xaghra are
grateful for this.
Farmers and the commercial community used
to go to the mill with cereals, mainly grain
to grind it into flour. This must have kept
the miller busy most of the time but when he
was idle he would go onto the roof and blow
the Bronja, a long shaped sea shell with the
end chipped off, so that people would know
that they would be served immediately if they
went at that hour. With the industrial revolution,
it went idle and today stands silently serving
as a museum place visited annually by thousands
of tourists and locals.
" The Old Lady of Xaghra" stands
proudly dominating the town of Xaghra dreaming
about the old days when it was surrounded by
greenery for which Xaghra was always renowned
and when life was far more peaceful and serene.
For image gallery click here.
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