Dorset Museums

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Sherborne Steam and Waterwheel Centre

About

Sherborne Steam and Waterwheel Centre, formerly known as Castleton Waterwheel Museum, is run by a local group of volunteers who over the past 25 years have rescued the waterwheel and its house from serious neglect, provided a new building to house a refurbished Hindley steam engine. The wheel, 26 feet in diameter having steel rims, 72 steel buckets, and a cast iron rim-gear, is unique in having three leats providing water in high breast shot array; it also has a system of ventilated buckets invented by William Fairbairn in the early part of the 19th century.

In 1876 a Hindley Steam Engine was added and we now have a similar engine and boiler in a new building that will run under steam on open days. This Hindley engine was originally installed at Gillingham Brickworks and has a 11 feet 6 inches diameter flywheel so strong local link.

The installation provided clean water for the inhabitants of Sherborne in 1869 and ran until 1959 when it was replaced by electrical borehole pumps.

Do look at our website www.sswc.co.uk for latest information.

Learning

Group visits welcome by prior arrangement. Numbers may be restricted because of space constraints. Please contact the museum directly to discuss your requirements.

Facilities

Museum facilities
Parking  
Refreshments  
Gift shop   
Gardens/Grounds  
Toilets  
Toilets for Wheelchair Users   
Guided Tours   
Audio Tours   
Wheelchair Accessability   
Induction Loop   
Facilities for the Blind / Visually Impaired   
Group Visits  
School Visits  
Outreach activities  

 

Contact

Oborne Road
Sherbourne
Dorset

Geoff Ward  +44(0) 1963 250206
Rob Harris  +44(0) 1935 389535

http://www.sswc.co.uk

or

Via contact form on website