'When Laxey was a mining village many years ago...'

Briefly...

"The Laxey Wheel, the world's largest water wheel, was erected in 1854 to pump water from the lead mines. Designed by Manxman Robert Casement, she was christened the 'Lady Isabella' in honour of the then Governor's wife. In it's heyday almost seven miles of lathes brought a continuous supply of water down the hillside to power the wheel. These lathes have long since disappeared.

The mines were worked on a 24 hour basis, and the miners paid on production. Fourteen and a half thousand gallons of water an hour could be pumped from a depth of 1500 ft.

The mine closed in 1929, and was the last of the Island's mines to be worked.

The Lady Isabella is currently owned and operated as a tourist attraction by Manx National Heritage. According to figures provided in February 2001 the wheel is the Island's most cost effective tourist attraction.

The mines at Laxey produced lead, zinc, silver and some copper."

Quoted from: http://www.mann.esmartweb.com/mining.htm