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From Castlebar - County Mayo - Mayo Historical and Archaeological Society Constructed in 1854, the Great Laxey Wheel, on the Isle of Man was designed by Manxman John Casement, an engineer who was largely self taught. The wheel, which was named ‘Lady Isabella’ after the wife of Lieutenant Governor Hope, of the Isle of Man, is 72.5 feet in diameter and has a circumference of 209 ft. and a width of 6 feet; it does two revolutions a minute. Its purpose was to pump 250 gallons of water a minute from deep inside the local mine which produced lead, copper, zinc and silver, until 1929 when it finally closed. The wheel is the largest of its type in Europe.
The photos show a general view of the wheel, and a view from a platform over the waterwheel which is accessed by climbing a steep circular stairs outside the tower.
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