Water Wheel Restoration Talk with the Engineering Team

Water wheels were an integral power source for Sheffield’s industries, businesses, and manufacturing processes before the industrial revolution. Powered by rivers and dams, they were the driving force that saw the city begin to establish its reputation for excellence in making and manufacture.

The waterwheels at Abbeydale Industrial Hamlet were repaired in the 1980s and 1990s but sadly later stood dormant for 10 years. In 2013 a major project funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund was undertaken by the museums’ engineering team to replace the waterwheel shafts.

In this talk by Eddy Foster, Head of Historic Engineering, learn more about the ambitious three-year project to replace two water wheel shafts at Abbeydale Industrial Hamlet and re-commission the wheel ready to run again.

You’ll find out more about the complex process of changing the shafts and the research, planning, logistics and ongoing maintenance of the waterwheels to keep these incredible examples of Sheffield’s historic engineering running into the future.

Abbeydale Industrial Hamlet
Abbeydale Road
Beauchief
Sheffield
S7 2QW