Here’s a summary of the construction and history of L-Gdida Windmill now demolished in Mellieha, Malta:
Historical profile of L-Ġdida Windmill (Il-Mitħna l-Ġdida) in Mellieħa, Malta, the windmill built in 1849 — including its construction, working life, and eventual disappearance.
🌀 L-Ġdida Windmill, Mellieħa
(“The New Windmill” – Built 1849)
🏗️ Construction & Purpose (1849)
L-Ġdida Windmill was built in 1849 during the British colonial period, at a time when Mellieħa was expanding as a permanent farming village after centuries of seasonal agricultural use.
The name “l-Ġdida” literally means “the new one”, distinguishing it from:
L-Qadima (“the old windmill” – earlier, now lost)
The Salib tal-Pellegrini windmill (today the famous Mithna Restaurant)
Why it was built
By the mid-19th century:
Mellieħa’s population was increasing steadily
Wheat, barley, and animal feed production expanded
Existing mills were overloaded or poorly located for new farms
L-Ġdida was therefore constructed to:
✅ Serve the new agricultural zones
✅ Reduce dependence on distant mills
✅ Improve food security in northern Malta
🧱 Architectural Type & Mechanism
Like most late Maltese windmills, L-Ġdida followed the standard Maltese tower-mill design:
Cylindrical stone tower built of globigerina limestone
Rotating wooden cap at the top
Four timber sails covered with canvas
Internal vertical shaft driving:
A main millstone (runner)
A bedstone below
Ground floor used for:
Grain storage
Flour sacks
Miller’s tools
This type of construction was extremely durable but mechanically obsolete within 60–70 years.