Waterwheels Collection

A correct plan of the town of Sheffield by William Fairbank, 1771
Scale 440 yards : 3.3 inches. Shows the Bull Stake, slaughterhouses, Town Mill, Irish Cross. Original at Local Studies y09647

Artists Impression of M and H Armitage and Co. Mousehole Forge, River Rivelin
From an original at Sheffield Libraries: w02075

Aberdulais Mill (w/c & pencil on paper)
NGW387993 Aberdulais Mill (w/c & pencil on paper) by Hornor, Thomas (1785-1844); 20.8x29.4 cm; National Museum Wales; (add.info)

Plan of Broomhall area of Sheffield, 1810
Full title: Lots of Broom Hall estate referred to by conditions of sale. Right: Broom Hall [Broomhall Road], Broom Lodge, [Wharncliffe Road, Broomhall Road, Collegiate Crescent, Ecclesall Road]

Plan of the Cutlers Wheel House on Little Sheffield Moor, 1784
Full title: A plan of the Cutlers Wheel House on Little Sheffield Moor held of the Earl of Surrey by James Bennett. Bennetts Wheel and dam

Plan of land along the River Rivelin, Sheffield, 1784
Full title: A plan of the Holme Wheels, and of the lands of the Earl of Surrey held with them by George Spooner and William Hellifield

Plan of Sandbed Wheel held of the Earl of Surrey by the assignees of Thomas Broadbent, Neepsend, Sheffield, 1783
Scale: 2 chains : 1 inch [40 inches : 1 mile] Surveyor: William Fairbank II. Wheels, dam and goit clearly shown and named; numerical list with descriptions and acreages; height of fall given

Map of the Two Lock Lodge Closes, with the Upper and Lower Slack Wheels and the Ground held with them of the Earl of
From an original at Sheffield Libraries: arc02711

Beatham Mill (bodycolour on paper)
1214382 Beatham Mill (bodycolour on paper) by Sunderland, Thomas (1744-1823); 38.5x24.8 cm; Laing Art Gallery, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, UK; eTyne & Wear Archives & Museums; English, out of copyright

A Yorkshire Mill, 1886 (w / c on paper)
5889125 A Yorkshire Mill, 1886 (w/c on paper) by Pilsbury, Wilmot, R.W.S. (1840-1908); 48.9x73.7 cm; Private Collection; Photo eThe Ms Gallery, London; English, out of copyright

Large waterwheels at Antakya
Hama, Syria. The city is renowned for its 17 norias (waterwheels) used for watering the gardens, which date back to 1100 BC

Drawing by Harold Auerbach, waterwheel and stream
Pen and ink drawing by Harold Auerbach, waterwheel and stream. Date: circa 1910

Hama, Syria, Bridge over Orontes River and Giant Waterwheels
Hama, Syria - Great Bridge over the El-Assi (Orontes) River and the Giant waterwheels. The city is renowned for these seventeen norias, which locals claim date back to 1100 BC

Plan of Whiteley Woods (Part 2) -Whiteley Woods (Part 2) - section from Oakbrook Road to Dead Lane, 1897
Image from Sheffield City Council, General Purposes and Parks Committee - Plans and Description of Parks and Recreation Grounds (Local Studies Library 352.7 SQ)

Plan of an enlargement of the [General] Cemetery and of a new road leading thereto
Scale 1 inch : 90 yards.Surveyors: Flockton, Lee and Flockton, engineers.Original at Sheffield City Archives: FC/P/SheD/596S

Sheffield Flood, remains of William I. Horn and Co. Wisewood Forge and Rolling Mill (Bradshaw Wheel), Loxley Valley
Taken from Sheffield Inundation, 1864, Ref. 942.74 SQ

w00438
Sheffield Flood 1864, w00438

w00416
Sheffield Flood 1864, w00416

w00415
Sheffield Flood 1864, w00415

w00414
Sheffield Flood 1864, w00414

w00406
Sheffield Flood 1864, w00406

w00404
Sheffield Flood 1864, w00404

Hama, Syria - The Giant waterwheels on the Orontes River. The city is renowned for these seventeen norias, which locals claim date back to 1100 BC

Hama Syria - Great Bridge over the El-Assi River
Hama, Syria - Great Bridge over the El-Assi (Orontes) River and the Giant waterwheels. The city is renowned for these seventeen norias, which locals claim date back to 1100 BC

Plan of an Estate situated at the Old Wheel in the Parish of Bradfield the property ofs Newbould, 1820
By Edward Surtees.Scale: 10 chains : 3.3 inches.Size 45 x 315cm.Original at Local Studies E(287)2S

Plan of land at Loxley intended to be sold to Samuel Newbould (part between Old Wheel Dam and Storrs Wheel), by W
Original at Local Studies E(294)2S

A water wheel in the neighbourhood of Sheffield, Yorkshire, 19th cent
From an original at Sheffield Libraries: u09572

w00427
Sheffield Flood 1864, w00427

w00426
Sheffield Flood 1864, w00426

w00423
Sheffield Flood 1864, w00423

w00419
Sheffield Flood 1864, w00419

w00418
Sheffield Flood 1864, w00418

w00413
Sheffield Flood 1864, w00413

w00408
Sheffield Flood 1864, w00408

w00407
Sheffield Flood 1864, w00407

w00405
Sheffield Flood 1864, w00405

w00400
Sheffield Flood 1864, w00400

Old mill, waterwheel, Mills, Rivers, Waterwheels, 1900

Water mill in the Old Town, Lijiang, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Yunnan Province, China, Asia

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Waterwheels have played a significant role in the history and development of Sheffield, as depicted in various plans and drawings throughout the years. In William Fairbank's accurate plan of the town from 1771, one can see the presence that powered industries along the River Rivelin. An artist's impression showcases M and H Armitage and Co. 's Mousehole Forge, highlighting its reliance on waterwheel technology for production. The importance is further emphasized in a plan from 1810 depicting the Broomhall area, where these ingenious devices were utilized to harness the power of flowing rivers. Little Sheffield Moor saw another example with Cutlers Wheel House, as illustrated in a detailed plan dating back to 1784. Not limited to industrial use alone, it also served practical purposes such as grinding grain or pumping water. The Sandbed Wheel held by Thomas Broadbent's assignees near Neepsend was an excellent demonstration of this functionality according to a plan from 1783. Beyond Sheffield's borders, Harold Auerbach's drawing captures both the beauty and utility alongside a serene stream. Meanwhile, Hama in Syria boasts impressive giant waterwheels that spanned across bridges over Orontes River—an awe-inspiring sight captured through artistry. As time progressed, plans like Whiteley Woods (Part 2) from 1897 showcased how even recreational areas incorporated these historic mechanisms into their landscapes. Waterwheels became part of Sheffield's identity—a testament to its rich industrial heritage. However, not all instances involving they were positive ones. The devastating Sheffield Flood left remnants behind—including William I. Horn and Co. 's Wisewood Forge and Rolling Mill—depicted in an image from 1864 known as w00438. From early town planning documents to artistic representations spanning centuries and continents, it becomes evident that they were integral to Sheffield's growth and prosperity.