Manx National Heritage and the Institute of Historic Building Conservation (IHBC) North West Branch, are inviting heritage and building professionals, enthusiasts and members of the public to a free lunchtime webinar exploring the conservation of the world’s largest working water wheel.
The online event, which has been rescheduled to Tuesday 9 June 2026, will take place from 1pm to 2pm and will provide a unique insight into the recently completed three-year conservation project at the iconic Laxey Wheel.
The webinar will be presented by John-Paul Walker, Historic Buildings Architect for Manx National Heritage, who led the conservation project. Drawing on a wide range of conservation techniques and engineering solutions, the talk will examine the complexities of preserving and maintaining one of the Isle of Man’s most recognisable heritage landmarks.
Reflecting on the project, John-Paul Walker said:
“It must be the most complex conservation project our charity has ever undertaken and one of the most complex I have undertaken as a conservation architect – a structure of timber, iron and stone with no roof, water poured over it all day and it moves!”
Participants will learn about the unique challenges posed by conserving a large-scale industrial monument that remains operational, as well as the innovative approaches used to ensure the wheel’s continued future.
The webinar forms part of the IHBC North West’s Continuing Professional Development programme and offers a valuable opportunity to gain insights into the conservation of historic industrial infrastructure from those directly involved in the project.
The webinar takes place on Tuesday 9 June 2026 from 1:00pm – 2:00pm. Tickets are free and can be booked on Eventbrite at https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/ihbc-nw-cpd-tickets-1989828454472.