Tat-Tmien Kantunieri Windmill Explained

Tat-Tmien Kantunieri Windmill
Native Name:Il-Mitħna Tat-Tmien Kantunieri
Native Name Lang:mt
Alternate Names:Il-Mitħna Ottagonali tax-Xewkija
Building Type:Windmill
Location:Gozo
Address:Triq Mgarr
Location City:Xewkija, Gozo
Location Country:Malta
Coordinates:36.0359°N 14.2603°W
Opened Date:1710
Closing Date:1886
Destruction Date:-->

Tat-Tmien Kantunieri Windmill (Maltese: Il-Mitħna tat-Tmien Kantunieri) in Xewkija, on the main road mid-way between Victoria and Għajnsielem, stands as the oldest surviving windmill in Gozo, Malta. It has just undergone restoration after the Planning Commission approved the works to start on this historic building.[1] [2] [3]

History

The Tat-Tmien Kantunieri Windmill was commissioned by Grand Master Ramon Perellos y Roccaful and started operating in 1710 by the miller Ganni Scicluna (Gio Maris Xicluna).Perellos has also made Giovanni Gourgion as the Procurator of Wheat, where Giovanni would receive a commission on all grain he brought to Malta. Gourgion has his residence, which later used to be known as the Gourgion Tower in Xewkija.[4] [5]

The windmill consists of a large entrance hall with two parallel rooms. At the back of the mill, there is a kitchen and the building still retain its original oven. In the middle of the mill, there is a winding staircase leading to the mill roof. Above the entrance hall, there is the birth room.

The windmill remained in use until 1886 when a fire destroyed it.

In the mid-19th century, it was owned by the three Camilleri brothers.

The windmill served as the first location for the Xewkija Band Club – Banda Prekursur. It was used as the base of this club from 1956 to 1965.[6] [7] [8]

The windmill has been restored and was inaugurated on 29th January 2021. Concrete elements that were added later during the years were removed, and a small square nearby was added. The mechanical parts were re-installed. [9]

About

The Miller

The miller would grind cereals and grains, with the help of a big rotating stone driven from the eight pointed fan like sails made from wood. When the wind blows from the required direction, the miller would call his customers by a trumpet shell (Maltese: Bronja), or otherwise he would also go with his cart to collect the grains.Before this type of mill has been built, the miller had to use a blindfolded mule or ass to turn a similar stone setup, usually in a stable. These mills are considered the first industrial machines on the Maltese islands.[10] [11] [12]

An interesting notary note dated 7 March 1851 was unearthed recently (2018). The note was made by Marcello Xicluna the leaseholder of the Windmill. He argued that in order to pay for the rent he had to sell various possessions he had. He asked for a reduction of his rent which was 550 scudi per annum. He had this lease from the government for the last 32 years. During that time people were constructing their 'centimolo' into their own property and thus they were milling their own corn, and were not making use of his mill. He brought other arguments too. The request was at the end refused.[13] [14] [15] [16]

Maltese windmills

See also: List of windmills in Malta. Malta has the biggest density of windmills in the world, which is 1 windmill every 9sq km. This surpasses the Netherlands, which has 1 windmill every 39sq km. In the Maltese Islands, 69 windmills are known to have been built, but only about 36 still exist today. 54 windmills were built in Malta and 15 in Gozo. Only 3 windmills have sails to date.Most windmills in Malta were built by the Knights of St. John after they came from Rhodes. In 1674, the Grand Master Nicolas Cotoner ordered the building of the first five mills, with other building orders followed after. The construction period for these windmills was between 1663 till 1773. The windmill builders were assisted by the experts brought up from Mallorca, Spain. Some windmills were also used for the production of gunpowder.[17] In 1838, the government ended the monopoly of windmills, thus everybody was allowed to build windmills. The windmills were later superseded by steam mills.[9]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Willem . Staat . Malta has biggest density of windmills worldwide . Times of Malta . Times of Malta . 29 September 2018.
  2. Staat . Willem . Molens Malta . Molen Wereld . July–August 2005 . 84 . 256–264 . 29 September 2018 . Dutch . 1387-2974.
  3. Book: Gauci . MGR. Dr. Anthony . Gozo - A historical and tourist guide to the Island . 1969 . St. Joseph's Home Printing Press . Hamrun, Malta . 88 . 2nd . English.
  4. Azzopardi . Joe . The Gourgion Tower - Gone but not Forgotten (Part 1) . Vigilo . October 2013 . 44 . 45–47 . . 1026-132X . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20140211052747/http://dinlarthelwa.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/Vigilo-Oct2013.pdf . February 11, 2014 .
  5. Azzopardi . Joe . The Gourgion Tower - Gone but not Forgotten (Part 2) . Vigilo . May 2014 . 45 . 44–47 . . 1026-132X . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20151115112639/http://dinlarthelwa.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/Vigilo-45.pdf . November 15, 2015 .
  6. Web site: Tat-Tmien Kantunieri Windmill . Windmills of Malta . 29 September 2018.
  7. Web site: Information on Xewkija. My Guide Malta.
  8. Book: Bezzina . Joseph . Xewkija THE FIRST VILLAGE OF GOZO . 2004 . A+M Printing . Qala Malta . 978-99909-57-23-5 . 49–50 . 1st . English . 10 The Perellos octagonal windmill.
  9. Web site: Unique Windmill in Xewkija to be restored. Maltese National TV Website.
  10. Web site: Ta' Kola Windmill . Visit Gozo . 29 September 2018.
  11. Malta . Heritage . Ta' Kola Windmill . Malta Independent . 17 May 2016 . 29 September 2018.
  12. Book: Grima . John Paul . Studju Lessikali tat-Taħditiet Djalettali li ġabru Aquilina u Isserlin . April 2015 . University of Malta .
  13. Web site: WINDMILL IN XEWKIJA, GOZO by Vince Peresso . facebook . 27 May 2020.
  14. Web site: Xewkija Windmill Notary Note Page 1 . wikipedia. 27 May 2020.
  15. Web site: Xewkija Windmill Notary Note Page 2 . wikipedia. 27 May 2020.
  16. Web site: Xewkija Windmill Notary Note Page 3 . wikipedia. 27 May 2020.
  17. Mercieca. Simon. Muscat. Joseph. Windmills and the Production of Gunpowder in Malta. Symposia Melitensia. 2013. 9. 2–18.