George Sammut has, so to speak, ‘inherited’ the job of taking care of this windmill.

“The last miller was my great-uncle and my grandfather was a miller as well, so it has stayed in the family.”

Mr Sammut is an expert on the windmill and has even written a book about it so that the technical terms of this trade won’t be lost. Built in 1724 by Grandmaster de Vilhena, the Xarolla windmill was the last one in Malta to continue to function until it didn’t become practical to use any more.

In 1939, steam machines were introduced, which meant that wheat could still be milled even without any wind.

Unfortunately, the windmill was badly hit by a gale in 1979 and was left to deteriorate.

Then in October 1996, after years of neglect, it was restored by the Department of Public Works and in the year 2000 it was turned over to the Zurrieq Local Council.

“When I was young it wasn’t open to public and my father had often expressed the wish for it to be restored,” recalls Mr Sammut.

The name came about in the usual manner of us Maltese who like to shorten names as much as possible. The area used to be known as Xaghra l-gholja, which then became Xaghra gholja, and eventually Xarolla for short.

“I learned about it through the family, by asking questions and learning all about it. I actually mill wheat so that it continues to work properly. The process of milling the wheat involves breaking it down to four products: coarse bran, fine bran, semolina and flour. I don’t separate it, but it is still used. I do this job part-time and every weekend I turn the propeller so that no damage is done to it.”

George believes that today there is more appreciation for such old-fashioned trades.

“About a thousand students a year come to visit, apart from those who come to do projects for their Systems of Knowledge. Schoolchildren, cultural groups and tourists all come to see it and I take them round myself. Financially, there is a cost to keep it running but I get help from the council. Now it is crucial that we don’t abandon it and we have to keep it well-maintained.”

Everything in the Xarolla windmill is made from wood, and once a year George Sammut covers it with linseed oil which he does free of charge. This is definitely a labour of love.

“Love for our national heritage is what makes me continue. I often go to Xaghra to help them out with their windmill as I wish to see it restored as well.”

As for who will take over when George retires, thankfully his 17-year-old nephew is learning the trade.

“However, I would be pleased to teach whoever is interested so we don’t lose this heritage.