Laxey Wheel
The World’s Largest Working Waterwheel
The Laxey Wheel (also known as Lady Isabella) is a large waterwheel built in 1854 into the hillside above the village of Laxey in the Isle of Man to pump water from the Glen Mooar part of the ‘Great Laxey Mines’ industrial complex.
Designed by the Victorian engineer Robert Casement, the wheel has a 72-foot-6-inch (22.1 m) diameter, is 6 feet (1.83 m) wide and revolves at approximately three revolutions per minute.
The 150th anniversary of the Lady Isabella was celebrated by the people of Laxey with a grand fayre on Saturday 24 September 2004. It is currently maintained by Manx National Heritage as part of the Great Laxey Wheel & Mines Trail.
Manx National Heritage visiting and other details:
http://www.manxnationalheritage.im/attractions/laxey-wheel/
The wheel features today on the reverse side of the £20 notes issued by the Isle of Man Government.
A water-powered wheel was used to pump out the mines since the Isle of Man does not have a supply of coal for a steam-powered pump.
Water from the surrounding area — including the local river — is collected in a cistern, which is above the level of the top of the wheel. A closed pipe connects the cistern to the top of the wheel; thus the water flows up the tower without problem as an inverted syphon. The water falls from the pipe into the buckets (formed from wooden slats on the circumference) and makes the wheel rotate in what is described as the ‘reverse’ direction. The crank has a throw of 4 feet (1.22 m) and connects to a counterweight and to a very long rod. This rod runs along the rod viaduct to the pumping shaft where the 8 feet (2.44 m) stroke is converted by T-rockers into a pumping action.
Most of the wheel and rod is made of wood; however, key mechanical parts are metal to provide tension and bearing surfaces. The rod has attached wheels at intervals to permit the stroke’s motion with minimal friction.
See visitor comment from TripAdvisor:
Source: Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laxey_Wheel
Also visit the nearby Great Laxey Mines Railway:
http://www.laxeyminerailway.im
