| The Great Laxey Wheel Lady Isabella Wheel | |
|---|---|
.jpg) | |
 Interactive map of The Great Laxey Wheel Lady Isabella Wheel | |
| General information | |
| Type | Water wheel |
| Architectural style | Victorian |
| Location | Laxey,Isle of Man |
| Coordinates | 54°14′18.8″N4°24′26.6″W / 54.238556°N 4.407389°W /54.238556; -4.407389 |
| Owner | Manx National Heritage |
| Dimensions | |
| Diameter | 72 feet 6 inches (22.10 m) |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect | Robert Casement |
TheLaxey Wheel (also known asLady Isabella) is built into the hillside above the village ofLaxey in theIsle of Man. It is the largest surviving original workingwaterwheel in the world.[1] Designed by Robert Casement, the wheel has a 72-foot-6-inch (22.1 m) diameter, is 6 feet (1.8 m) wide and revolves approximately three times per minute.
The wheel 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 GovernorCharles Hope, who was the island'sgovernor at that time.
The wheel is currently maintained byManx National Heritage as part of the Great Laxey Wheel & Mines Trail.
The wheel features today on the reverse of the£20 notes issued by theIsle of Man Government.[2]
A water-powered wheel was used because the Isle of Man has no supply ofcoal for a steam-powered pump.
Water from the surrounding area – including a number of local springs and streams – is collected in acistern, 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 aninverted 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: it is abackshot wheel. Thecrank has a throw of 4 feet (1.2 m) and connects to a counterweight and to a very long rod. This rod runs along the rod viaduct to the pumping shaft 200m away, where the 8 feet (2.4 m) stroke is converted by a T-rocker into a pumping action.
Most of the wheel and rod is made of wood; while key mechanical parts are metal to provide tension and bearing surfaces. The rod has wheels attached at intervals to permit the stroke's motion with minimal friction.
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 ofManx National Heritage.
The wheel has two pieces of music dedicated to it: one penned byStuart Slack and the other by Helen Barley. Both are entitledThe Laxey Wheel.
.jpg)
54°14′18.7″N4°24′26.6″W / 54.238528°N 4.407389°W /54.238528; -4.407389