Where ever possible, a mine would make use of every source of water. Lades or leates would be constructed to channel the water from miles around and if the supply was inconsistent or low, a small dam would be built as a reservoir. At Beckwiths mine, several water wheels were in use and the tail off from one was fed onto the next wheel. A larger wheel below the washing floors was used for winding and so the water would be released from the dam on demand to give the required power when a kibble was to be raised in the shaft to surface.
|