Laxey Wheel


The Laxey Wheel is built into the hillside above the village of Laxey in the Isle of Man. It is the largest working waterwheel in the world. Designed by Robert Casement, the wheel has a diameter, is wide and revolves at approximately three revolutions per minute.

History

It was built in 1854 to pump water from the Glen Mooar part of the Great Laxey Mines industrial complex. It was named "Lady Isabella" after the wife of Lieutenant Governor Charles Hope, who was the island's governor at that time.
The wheel is currently maintained by Manx National Heritage as part of the Great Laxey Wheel & Mines Trail.
The wheel features today on the reverse side of the £20 notes issued by the Isle of Man Government.

Technical details

A water-powered wheel was used because the Isle of Man does not have a supply of coal for a steam-powered pump.
Water from the surrounding area – including a number of local springs and streams – 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 as an inverted syphon. The water falls from the pipe into the buckets and makes the wheel rotate in what is described as the 'reverse' direction: it is a pitchback wheel. The crank has a throw of and connects to a counterweight and to a very long rod. This rod runs along the rod viaduct to the pumping shaft where the stroke is converted by a T-rocker 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.

Dimensions

The mine employed over 600 miners at its peak, producing lead, copper, silver and zinc, until it closed in 1929. In 1965 the Manx Government bought the wheel and site. The wheel was restored; in 1989, it was put under the control of Manx National Heritage.

Musical wheel

The wheel has two pieces of music dedicated to it: penned by Stuart Slack, and Helen Barley both entitled The Laxey Wheel.