During the storm of 2012, the water wheel was damaged and became free of the main shaft. In order to redress the wheel, it needs to be jacked up and timber chocks inserted between the wheel hub and the shaft, locking the two together.

Many thanks here to Roland Boatfield from Lapford who has both the experience and equipment necessary to perform this task. Roland also manufactured a dedicated sleeve to sit on the shaft and hold the large manual hydraulic jack used to raise the water wheel. We estimate the weight to be in the region of two-to-three tonnes so were anxious that everything would hold up! It was both nerving and rewarding to see this vast wheel slowly lift, whereupon the timber chocks were inserted. Once up, we were able to adjust the chocks so that the wheel would be able to turn, enabling the old rotting timber buckets to be replaced.