May 20, 2016

Five on Friday - Wheels

Here we are again at Friday and here I am joining in with Amy at Love Made My Home for her Five on Friday feature. Today I've chosen wheels.



A nice simple one to start with. It's a penny farthing bicycle, which I always think look very impressive but I don't fancy riding one. I don't even fancy trying to get up on one! This is on show at Kelham Island Museum in Sheffield.

These wheels are what makes church bells ring. In this case at Lichfield Heritage Centre, a converted church that allows guided tours of its tower and the old bell chamber. They're fascinating to see close-up - but you don't want to be in there when they're ringing!

Here's a water wheel. It's on the side of Dyfi Furnace in Mid Wales. Dyfi is a restored 18th century charcoal fired blast furnace that was used for smelting iron ore. The wheel was used to power the bellows that maintained the furnace temperature.


This one was used to raise and lower a crane by the side of the Trent and Mersey Canal at Shardlow in Derbyshire. Canals were, of course, the main method of moving goods before the arrival of railways, and later road transport. This type of crane would have been a common sight along the banks of the Victorian canal system, but sadly very few remain - including the one in the photo. They fall victims to wood rot and vandalism. Even accidental damage can be fatal, since the workings are made from cast iron, which is very brittle, and cracks when it is hit.

And this one is for fun! It's on the front at Scarborough in an entertainment complex called Luna Park. It's changed a bit over the years, but there's been a big wheel there for as long as I can remember. I've never ridden it. You'll NEVER get me up there!

Now click on the photo below to be taken to Amy's site to see what other Fives are on offer this week.



18 comments:

  1. You have always such interesting posts, thank you! I love the photo of the water wheel. We have a big and presticious amusement park in Helsinki. I have been up there on the 'world wheel' as we say here - but am not sure whether I had the courage today :) Happy weekend!

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  2. A lovely five. I'm enjoying the water wheel at the mill I'm volunteering at . You just wonder who had the idea first or were there lots of different people in different places that invented the wheel? The mind boggles. Have a good weekend. B x

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  3. Wheels! This is a great theme. I like the water wheel best. Imagine the handwork and labor that went into building this back in the days when they didn't have the modern tools we have now. I think that alone gives things a nicer quality and feel. Enjoy your weekend!

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  4. I recognise the penny farthing bicycle exhibit, of course! An interesting set of photos showing examples of wheels. It's always good to see water wheels that have been restored and in use again. When a Big Wheel was set up in Fargate in Sheffield we went up in it only because more adventurous members of the family wanted to. Never again, but I did get some wonderful photos of the buildings below and beside us since the Town Hall tower was right beside us!

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  5. An amazing theme and one that makes you think. Wheels are an intricate part of our lives and yet can go unnoticed. A great five.

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  6. Great post on the theme of wheels. I love the water wheel. Alsothe penny farthing. I watched a few of them being ridden once in a parade, the people who rode them were in costume, it was a wonderful sight, they were so skilled at getting on and off from the back:)

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  7. What a great collection of wheels! A very good idea for a post. Some fascinating wheels. I never would have thought of the wheels for the bells! Thank you for taking part in Five On Friday, I hope you have a good weekend!

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  8. What a great idea! Wheels make the world go round! Have fun :-)

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  9. Great idea for a post, love it. I especially loved the water mill one x

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  10. Interesting collection of wheels. Love the penny farthing, I fall off regular bikes, can't imagine riding one like that.

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  11. What a lovely post on wheels! I used to love seeing the Penny Farthing in the museum when I was a kid. Now they just looks so uncomfortable. I can't imagine riding one!

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  12. A great variety of wheels, with a bit of fun at the end.

    Diana

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  13. That's a great representation of wheels. Love the history behind such things.

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  14. Yes i'm with you on the penny farthing. How on earth did they do it?! Nice wheel collection here, loved it!

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  15. That's a great theme for Friday's five. Nice shots!

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  16. A great collection of wheels! I enjoy reading about history and how people made things in years past. Ferris wheels used to be something I enjoyed, but I haven't been on one for years and don't know if I would want to.

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  17. I love going to historical places and seeing them getting ready to ride the penny farthings. There is a real knack to it :)

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  18. I love the themes you come up with for Five On Friday, always so interesting. xx

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