BSC Mill Wheel Project

Published 12:41 on 13 Mar 2024

BSC MILL WHEEL PROJECT

Earlier this month a small team of volunteers carried out some essential restoration work to the trestle supporting the axle of the small mill wheel under the club.

Over the years the foundations and timbers had badly decayed and needed significant work.

The first stage of this work was carried out in January by a contractor who rebuilt the solid plinth in the wheel pit to provide a base to mount the timber trestle.

With this in place, Howard Mackenzie-Wilson was able to accurately measure and produce a set of oak timber planks and wedges which would support the main balk of timber below the axle.

On the installation day, Mark Welch and Tim Brown took on the task of building up the trestle to take the weight of the axle. Despite particularly inclement weather this was successfully achieved.

NEXT STEPS

At the end of 2023 the core team met to fully evaluate whether the original aim to restore and generate power from one of the existing mill wheels was the most viable option to pursue.

After much discussion, it was decided that the scale and complexity of the potential restoration work was beyond the capability and resources of the core team and the club.

However, there was a very positive development from the meeting, when the team reviewed an old image of the club (circa 1891) which showed a second flume and third mill wheel fitted over the existing by-pass channel. (see below).

It was quickly apparent that to reinstate/restore this arrangement, including electricity generating turbines in the flume, would be considerably simpler and more cost effective than the original proposal. In addition, rather than needing the resources of specialist outside contractors to carry out the work, the team could draw on the skills and enthusiasm of club members for large elements of the project.

To establish the viability of this revised approach, Howard and Greg Grant have carried out a detailed survey of the existing bypass channel to produce a CAD drawing for the proposed new flume, turbines, and mill wheel. These drawings will also enable the team to prepare detailed costings for all elements of the work.

Once prepared, these costs and a feasibility report will be presented to the club's flag officers.

David Macfarlane

Image Copyright @ Bosham Gallery

Last updated 17:04 on 13 March 2024