The Laxey Wheel, Isle of Man

Lots more Free Music & Video - Click Here - Home 

Listen to the Song - MP3 OR See the Video (Location Shots)

Ever heard of the "Snaefell Wheel"? No ? Click here to find out!

This is a popular Manx song about the great Laxey Water-Wheel, also known as "Lady Isabella", which stands overlooking the east coast village of Laxey, Isle of Man. It was built in 1854 in order to pump up water from the mines which ran under sea level.  The name "Lady Isabella" is in honour of the wife of the then Governor of the Isle of Man, Charles Hope, who presided at the commissioning of the wheel.  In it's heyday mining in Laxey was an important source of lead and zinc in the British Isles and with a diameter of 22 metres, the wheel is claimed to be the largest in Europe, when not in the whole world.  

Mining operations ceased in Laxey in 1929 with the economic depression when ore extraction became uneconomic. The Wheel has remained a great tourist attraction since and has been renovated by Manx National Heritage.  

If you enjoy this MP3, why not take a look at our CD which features some further Manx and popular folk/blues songs in  high quality stereo. Click here.
 
Lyrics:
When Laxey was a mining village many years ago,
There were 600 miners working under Captain Rowe
The bottom of the mineshaft was below the water line
So they had to build a wheel to pump the water from the mine.
 
(Chorus): And the Laxey Wheel keeps turning, turning, turning,
In Lady Isabella's memory,
And while the water flows
The Laxey Wheel still goes
And the Laxey river runs down to the sea.
 
For three quarters of a century there were fortunes lost and found
As miners dug the lead and zinc from underneath the ground,
Then came a great depression in 1929
And the miners drew their wages for the last time at the mine
 
(Chorus)
 
It's stood now for a 100 years through wind, snow, rain and drought,
And it will keep on turning till the sands of time run out,
And though the main mine building is no more than a shell
The Wheel still stands majestic in the shadow of Snaefell.
 
(Chorus)
 
 
(Words and Music by Stuart Slack)

Water Wheel, Laxey Wheel, Ragtime, MP3, MP-3, Download, Video, Manx, Isle of Man, Wasserrad.