How did this magnificent waterwheel end up here in Laxey? The Snaefell Mine Waterwheel stands before you a testament to engineering ingenuity and a poignant reminder of a tragic past. This isn’t just any waterwheel. It’s the Snaefell Mine Waterwheel also known as Lady Evelyn.
Originally built in 1865 by Messrs Leigh and Gilbert Howell of Hawarden iron works in Flintshire north Wales it was one of two identical 50-foot diameter wheels. The Snaefell Mining Company purchased it to pump water from their mine high in the Laxey Valley. The wheel’s lifespan at Snaefell ended by 1910. It was then disassembled and sent to Bodmin Cornwall.
Years later in the 1950s it fell into disuse. In 1971 the Cornish Wheel Preservation Society acquired the wheel. They dismantled it for preservation. The society later merged with the Trevithick Society. They became the current owners of the wheel. In 1976 the Llywernog Silver Lead Mine in Wales borrowed the wheel but never actually reconstructed it.
Then came 2003. A remarkable effort began to bring the Snaefell Mine Waterwheel home to Laxey. On August 20 2006 it was officially reopened. It turned for the first time in decades. To celebrate this occasion a piece of music “Snaefell Wheel March” was written by Paul Dunderdale. The Onchan Silver Band performed it at the opening ceremony.
The Snaefell Mine Waterwheel’s journey is more than just a tale of engineering and restoration. It’s intricately linked to the history of the Snaefell Mine itself. The mine is remembered for the Isle of Man’s worst mining disaster. In May 1897 an underground fire released carbon monoxide gas. Twenty miners died.
The Snaefell Mine Waterwheel’s relocation to the Laxey Glen Gardens is a fitting tribute. It stands as a symbol of resilience and remembrance a reminder of the triumphs and tragedies etched into the very fabric of the Isle of Man’s mining heritage. Take a moment to appreciate this remarkable piece of Manx history. Its story is one of perseverance and the indomitable spirit of those who strive to preserve the past.