Undershot waterwheel

Made:
1820 in Otley
Undershot waterwheel

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© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Undershot water wheel used to power a paper mill in Pool-in-Wharfedale, near Leeds, 1820.

This waterwheel was used to power a paper mill in Pool-in-Wharfedale, near Leeds. This is an undershot water wheel, meaning that the water passes beneath it, in the manner of a stream, and hits the wheel horizontally. It was donated to the museum by B. S. & W. Whiteley Ltd, who had run the mill since 1886. The Pool Mill site had been used since at least 1798, with the river Wharfe providing plentiful power harnessed by water wheels. Two undershot water wheels, including this one, were used at the mill until 1920, when they were removed to make way for more efficient turbines.

Details

Category:
Motive Power
Object Number:
Y1982.24
Materials:
wood (unidentified) and metal (unknown)
Measurements:
overall: 3658 mm,
type:
water-wheel
credit:
Gift of B.S. & W. Whiteley Limited

Parts

Paddles for Undershot Waterwheel

Paddles for Undershot Waterwheel

Pallet box containing 30 paddles from undershot water wheel used to power a paper mill in Pool-in-Wharfedale, near Leeds.

Measurements:
overall: 940 mm x 1100 mm x 900 mm, 72.5 kg
Materials:
metal (unknown) and wood (unidentified)
Object Number:
Y1982.24/1
type:
paddles (watercraft equipment)
Image ©
The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum
Wheel Components for Waterwheel

Wheel Components for Waterwheel

Pallet with three wheel sections from undershot water wheel used to power a paper mill in Pool-in-Wharfedale, near Leeds.

Measurements:
overall: 1600 mm x 2300 mm x 900 mm, 638 kg
Materials:
metal (unknown) and wood (unidentified)
Object Number:
Y1982.24/2
type:
wheels
Image ©
The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum
Wheel Components for Waterwheel

Wheel Components for Waterwheel

Pallet with two wheel sections from undershot water wheel used to power a paper mill in Pool-in-Wharfedale, near Leeds.

Measurements:
overall: 1630 mm x 2300 mm x 300 mm, 460 kg
Materials:
metal (unknown) and wood (unidentified)
Object Number:
Y1982.24/3
type:
wheels
Image ©
The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum
Gear Section for Waterwheel

Gear Section for Waterwheel

Gear section from undershot water wheel used to power a paper mill in Pool-in-Wharfedale, near Leeds.

Measurements:
overall: 730 mm x 1330 mm x 1120 mm, 504.5 kg
Materials:
metal (unknown) and wood (unidentified)
Object Number:
Y1982.24/4
type:
gear wheel
Image ©
The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum
Gear Section for Waterwheel

Gear Section for Waterwheel

Gear section from undershot water wheel used to power a paper mill in Pool-in-Wharfedale, near Leeds.

Measurements:
overall: 580 mm x 460 mm x 1340 mm, 203.5 kg
Materials:
metal (unknown) and wood (unidentified)
Object Number:
Y1982.24/5
type:
gear wheel
Image ©
The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum
Gear section from undershot water wheel used to power a paper mill in Pool-in-Wharfedale

Gear section from undershot water wheel used to power a paper mill in Pool-in-Wharfedale

Gear section from undershot water wheel used to power a paper mill in Pool-in-Wharfedale, near Leeds.

Measurements:
overall: 2185 mm x 2185 mm x 2226 mm,
Materials:
metal (unknown) and wood (unidentified)
Object Number:
Y1982.24/6
type:
gear wheel