Lothersdale Mill – the Largest Indoor Waterwheel in the World?

James Ellison commissioned to construct Lothersdale waterwheel

Around 1860, owing to increasing trade, Dale End needed a larger and more powerful waterwheel to drive the textile production machinery. The mill owners therefore, commissioned James Ellison's iron foundry at Eastburn to construct and install a huge 44ft diameter, pitch-back waterwheel which was erected within a specifically built wheelhouse situated at the rear of the mill.

Lothersdale waterwheel – largest indoor waterwheel in Britain

The huge waterwheel at Lothersdale Mill is the largest 'indoor' waterwheel in Britain and is constructed from wrought iron, cast iron and wood.

The largest surviving internally housed waterwheel

Dale End Mill at Lothersdale still retains the largest surviving internally housed waterwheel in Britain.

Construction of Lothersdale waterwheel at Dale End

This truly impressive example of a large waterwheel is about 44ft in diameter by 7ft wide. The axle-tree is forged from wrought iron material and the journal ends run in bearings made from the tropical hardwood Lignum Vitae. Lothersdale waterwheel closely resembles a giant bicycle wheel; the spokes are made from elm and the tie-rods are of wrought-iron. The drive was transmitted by rim-gearing of cast iron and the original buckets were also made from cast iron.

James Ellison of Eastburn constructed the wheel

James Ellison's iron foundry at nearby Eastburn constructed the wheel around 1860 and it could produce almost 40 horsepower.

International Stationary Steam Engine Society investigation at Lothersdale

Dale End Mill, Lothersdale A party from ISSES (International Stationary Steam Engine Society) is investigating this lovely mill with a very large indoor waterwheel.

Lothersdale wheel is protected from the elements

In this exposed location it was necessary to protect the wheel from the elements (e.g. wind loading and ice formation). The metal trough is the high breast shot water supply.– Chris Allen

Lothersdale waterwheel centre

Waterwheel centre – Dale End Mill This is a 44' wheel. Although very delicate and with a rim drive, it is not a suspension wheel. The rim is supported by wooden spokes in compression and there is diagonal wrought iron bracing of each pair of spokes to stop lozenging. A suspension wheel is like a bicycle wheel with spokes in tension.– Chris Allen

Dale End Mill in Lothersdale houses the world's largest indoor waterwheel.

Basic Waterwheel Types

There are four different types of waterwheel, although there are regional variations in design:

• Over shot
• Breast shot
• High breast shot, otherwise known as pitch back
• Undershot

The waterwheel at Lothersdale Mill is of the high breast shot or pitch back variety.

Dale End Mill waterwheel – a high breast-shot or pitch-back wheel

Dale End Mill waterwheel installed 1861. High breast-shot 13.74m diameter x 1.52m wide. 40 horsepower. In this exposed location it needs to be indoors to protect it from freezing and high winds. "Probably the largest wheel in a Yorkshire Mill". – Chris Allen

Lothersdale Mill waterwheel house

Dale End Mill – The top of the waterwheel house is visible – shallow pitched roof to the left of the chimney. Home to what is claimed to be the world's largest indoor waterwheel. Certainly is big. At the base of the chimney (out of shot) are the decaying remains of a Goodbrand economiser. – Chris Allen