Laxey Wheel

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Laxey Wheel in the Isle of Man.

The Triskelion is visible on the front of the wheel. However it is backwards; this happened by accident when transferring the image on to the wall, they forgot to reverse the image so it is actually a mirror image of the authentic Three Legs of Mann

The Laxey Wheel (also known as Lady Isabella) is a large waterwheel built in the town of Laxey in the Isle of Man. Designed by Robert Casement, it is 72 feet 6 inches (22.10 m) in diameter and 6 feet (1.83 m) wide. It revolves at about 3 rpm.

1 History
2 Technical details
- 2.1 Dimensions
3 The mine
4 Musical Wheel
5 See also
6 External links

[edit] History

It was built in 1854 to pump water from the mineshafts and named "Lady Isabella" after the wife of Lieutenant Governor Hope who was the island's governor at that time.

The Laxey wheel has been claimed to be the largest working waterwheel in Europe. The wheel was used to pump out the Laxey zinc, lead, silver and copper mine.

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.

[edit] Technical details

The wheel is water-powered since the Isle of Man does not have a supply of coal but does have an abundance of water.

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. 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.

[edit] Dimensions

Diameter, 72ft 6in.
Circumference, 210ft 6in.
Width, 6ft.
Delivery, 250 imperial gallons (1,100 l) of water a minute from the Laxey mines some 200 yards (180 m) away and 1,500 feet (460 m) below ground

The wheel still operates but does not pump water.

[edit] The mine

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 and, in 1989, it was put under the control of Manx National Heritage.