Snaefell Wheel and Washing Floors

Type:Historic Site

Snaefell Wheel and Washing Floors

Book Tickets Online

About

The "Washing Floors" were built in 1848 and  situated in the area now known as the Valley Gardens, where the Great Laxey Mine Railway has its terminus. Nearly three hundred people worked on the Washing Floors in the 1870s, including a number of women and children.

Deposits of metal ores usually consist of a mixture of minerals and although the miners would try to mine only the minerals of value, inevitably worthless material would be brought to the surface with the ore. The process of separating the waste and sorting the valuable ores was known as "dressing".

Trains loaded with ore arrived at the top of the washing floors through the tunnel beneath the main road (and later the Manx Electric Railway line) at the top of the storage bunkers. The tramway wagons were uncoupled and the contents tipped down the "teams" to the bunkers below. The sloping stonework of the "teams" still survives and the wear on the stone from the ore falling from the tramway wagons is still apparent.

Waste stone was then hand sorted and the pieces of ore were placed in the crusher. A number of other processes using machinery powered by waterwheels and with names such as "jiggers" and "buddles" separated the ore into different types.  At the end of the process, a horse tramway carried the ore down the Glen Road to Laxey Harbour from where it was shipped away to smelting works in South Wales.  

Waste stone was tipped on the other side of the main road and eventually the immense pile of "deads", as it was known, towered above the adjacent houses. The "deads" were removed during the Second World War and were used to construct runways at two RAF stations in the north of the Island.  The machinery on the Washing Floors was scrapped in 1935.

In 2006, the former Snaefell Mine Waterwheel was rebuilt on the Valley Gardens by members of the Laxey Mines Research Group.  A series of information boards located around the area explain the main features and the washing process.  

 

Laxey Valley Gardens, Laxey, IM4 7NH
Close window

Call direct on:

Tel07624 262404

Opening Times

* The Snaefell Wheel and Washing Floors are free to visit and open all year.

Map & Directions

What's Nearby

  1. Located in the village of Laxey, on the eastern coast of the Isle of Man, the restored…

    0.01 miles away
  2. Situated in a small picturesque glen, just north of Douglas on the Isle of Man, is the…

    3.88 miles away
  1. Full of legends and heritage, St Luke's Church and the site of Old Tynwald can be…

    4.76 miles away
  2. A great opportunity to see information charting the conception of the railway right up…

    5.04 miles away
  3. Take a nostalgic journey along the Douglas Promenade on the world's oldest horse drawn…

    5.11 miles away
  4. Take an unforgettable journey along the east coast of the island on this unique electric…

    5.1 miles away
  5. Raise the stakes and venture into the Palace Casino. With its exciting atmosphere and a…

    5.58 miles away
  6. Visit Kirk Maughold for a spiritual experience in this ancient and tranquil setting which…

    5.71 miles away
  7. There are 15 acres of gardens and woodlands in this historical setting for you to explore…

    5.96 miles away
  8. Private House Tours for 10+ individuals can be booked upon request, please call 01624…

    6.02 miles away
  9. Duffy and Waldo invite your little explorers to jump, climb, slide and swing at Dragons…

    6.07 miles away
  10. Visit St Thomas' Church in central Douglas and discover the unique art, history and…

    6.24 miles away
  11. From the wonders of our natural world to road racing legends, begin your journey through…

    6.28 miles away
  12. For over a century manuscripts, maps and plans, photographs, prints, film, sound and…

    6.28 miles away
  13. Mooragh Park in Ramsey is a popular attraction with excellent leisure facilities.

    6.7 miles away
Previous Next
Download our One Stop Guide Download our one stop guide