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Isle of Man Holidays / Isle of Man Tourist Information / Laxey / Laxey Wheel

Laxey Wheel

Laxey, Isle of Man

Located on the east coast in a historic mining valley in Laxey, the Laxey Wheel is the largest water wheel in the world. Completed in 1854 by John Casement, an engineer from Laxey, its purpose was to pump water from the Glen Mooar part of the Great Laxey Mines industrial complex. It could pump 250 gallons of water a minute from the Laxey mines some 200 yards away and 1500ft below ground. It was named 'Lady Isabella' after the wife of the then Lieutenant Governor of the Isle of Man and measures an impressive 22m (72.5 feet) in diameter and has a circumference of 69m (227feet).

The government bought the wheel in 1965 and began a complete restoration to return the wheel to its former glory. In 1989 it was put under the control of Manx National Heritage and Laxey Wheel has remained one of the Island's most dramatic tourist attractions for over 150 years. The Laxey Wheel is best seen when the weather is fine as there is no shelter from rain. The attractions mainly consist of walking about and reading signs placed in spots of interest. The site consists of: Three rambling trails, Laxey Wheel, picnic areas with benches and tables, Laxey Mines, many ruins of the wheel's past mining history and interesting trails past former mine workings.