Press releases
County Durham’s Killhope Wheel was presented with an Institution of Mechanical Engineers’ Engineering Heritage Award at a special ceremony on 29 September 2017.
Previous winners of Engineering Heritage Awards include Alan Turing’s Bombe at Bletchley Park, the E-Type Jaguar and the fastest ever Concorde. This will be the 110th Engineering Heritage Award.
The Killhope Wheel was honoured for being the oldest and largest surviving William Armstrong waterwheel in the world, designed and manufactured by the famous Tyneside engineer at his Elswick Works. The wheel, manufactured around 1860, is over 10 metres in diameter and was brought to Killhope in 1877.
Bowman Bradley, Chair of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers’ North East Region, who presented the award, said:
“The Killhope Wheel is an outstanding example of 19th century engineering. This award honours not just the fantastic work of William Armstrong, but also of the volunteers and staff that have restored and maintained the wheel in such fantastic condition.”
Cllr Tracie Smith, Durham County Council’s Cabinet support member for tourism, culture, leisure and rural issues said:
“The Killhope Wheel has an important place in County Durham’s history and we are delighted it has been presented with this special award.
“The museum has recently seen a major refurbishment which will help ensure artefacts from the county’s past are protected and preserved for future generations to understand and enjoy.”
The wheel has a long, remarkable and well-documented history of producing power in the difficult conditions of the High Pennines. The wheel was made by Armstrong of Elswick and its design and installation was supervised by William Armstrong himself early in a career in which he rose to become a major figure in British Engineering.
The Institution of Mechanical Engineers was established in 1847 and has some of the world’s greatest engineers in its history books. It is one of the fastest growing professional engineering institutions. Headquartered in London, we have operations around the world and over 117,000 members in more than 140 countries working at the heart of the most important and dynamic industries such as the automotive, rail, aerospace, medical, power and construction industries.
Maria McArdle, Museum Operations Officer at the Killhope Lead Mining Museum, said on receipt of the award:
“We are very proud to receive this prestigious award which recognises the importance of the Killhope Wheel not just in the history of the north east but across the world.
“The hard work and dedication of our staff means the iconic waterwheel remains at the centre of the museum where visitors can experience the life of the lead mining families of the past.”
The awards, established in 1984, aim to promote artefacts, sites or landmarks of significant engineering importance – past and present. To find out more: Engineering Heritage Awards.
Notes to Editors
• Contact the Institution of Mechanical Engineers’ Press Office on 020 7304 6877 or email media@imeche.org.