Architecture: The Laxey Wheel

This build is inspired by the World's largest working waterwheel which can be found in the small village of Laxey on the East coast of the Isle of Man.

Designed by Robert Casement and built in 1854, the wheel is actually called "The Lady Isabella" after the wife of the Island's Governor at the time and was designed to pump water from the nearby mine.

The wheel has a diameter of 22.1m and is powered by water fed by gravity from a cistern in the nearby hillside. Completing 3 revolutions per minute, the wheel pushes/pulls a crank rod which stretches 600 ft up the valley carried on a series of arches. At the end of the crank, a T shaped rocker converts the horizontal motion into vertical motion to work the mine pumps. The system could pump 1,100l of water a minute from a depth of 460m.

The mine closed in 1929 and the wheel and land was bought by the Government in 1965. Since then, the wheel has been restored and is now a major tourist attraction.