During our 2025 maintenance period, an important engineering project took place behind the scenes to protect the heart of the Mill — the Waterwheel.
We had begun to notice slight movement of the wheel on its shaft. The cause lay in the keys and ties that secure the wheel in position. Because these components sit in a constantly wet environment, material choice and accuracy of fit are crucial. Earlier high-grade steel keys were actually working against the machinery. Unlike mild steel — which has a small amount of “give” and beds itself perfectly into place — the harder metal created friction and prevented the wheel from tightening securely.
Left unresolved, this would have posed a serious risk to the long-term stability of the structure. As guardians of this working heritage, ensuring the mill can continue to operate for future generations is always a priority.
Thanks to a Term Grant from Lyme Regis Town Council, we were able to carry out this vital stabilisation project. Working alongside our highly experienced engineering volunteers and a professional millwright, each key was removed in turn so that the keyways — the precise slots in the shaft and hub — could be carefully measured. These measurements were the critical factor in producing new, perfectly fitting mild-steel keys, which were then manufactured by Dunlaw Engineering in Chard.
The result is exactly what we hoped for:
the waterwheel is now firmly secured on the shaft, and all unwanted movement has been eliminated!
Projects like this highlight how essential traditional millwrighting skills and high-level engineering knowledge are to the survival of a working mill. Our expert volunteers are instrumental in guiding this work and we are lucky to benefit from the knowledge and expertise of local Millwrights.
In addition, the support of Lyme Regis Town Council through their award of a “Term Grant” to Town Mill has enabled this project to be undertaken - and over the next 5 years we will see a whole range of repairs and improvements to preserve this community asset that would otherwise be beyond our financial reach so we extend our most grateful thanks for their vital part in helping us keep the Waterwheel turning.
