Nominated by Richard Dawson
Must see buildings are supposed to be, well, buildings. What is a wheel doing here? Laxey Wheel is probably the biggest water wheel in the world, but it is a stunning building in a fabulous location.
The Isle of Man is a Must Visit Island, but that’s another story. What makes the Laxey Wheel special is that it was built in 1854, by the Great Laxey Mining company to pump water out of zinc mine, yet it is beautiful.
The wheel itself, named Lady Isabella, is 72 feet in diameter, and six feet thick, and it is connected to a complex pumping mechanism sitting on top of an elegant structure of brickwork arches. It is possible to climb a winding staircase to a platform above the top of the wheel, an ascent not for the faint hearted.
From the top there is a surreal view of the wheel, but also a terrific view over the Manx countryside from the hamlet of Agneash to the sea. The Wheel is high up a hillside, and Laxey Village sits far below. There has been no mining since 1929, but it should be remembered that this was cutting edge technology, manufactured and built on the Isle of Man itself and designed by a Manx engineer, Robert Casement. The axle of the wheel was forged in Liverpool, the only outsourced component. In its day it could pump water from a shaft 400 metres distant down to a depth of over 400 metres.
This is oil rig technology in the age of the Penny Black.
Must See Buildings of Britain is an occasional series on Britain’s most remarkable buildings. Not only the stately homes, palaces and monuments that are part of every tourist itinerary but buildings that are simply worth seeing. Some are well known – although not necessarily for their architecture. Some are less well known – undiscovered gems that are worth a look. Some will take several hours to visit properly; others are not open to the public but merit a few minutes to look at the from the outside.
Must See Buildings has a sister column, Beastly Buildings, which looks at those buildings we all love to hate
If you know a building you think we should cover, email the editor, charlotte@donowdo.com