I
live not more than 2 miles from the Snowdonian farm of Berthlwyd and butter is
still churned by waterpower on the farm next to mine.
The
wheel is similar to the one described; the water comes through pipes from a
small dam. The time required for churning by this method is unimportant as the
farmer's wife can go about her work meanwhile.
Only during droughts is there any difficulty, then the farmer's wife may have to
leave her cooking and finished the job by hand
– RJ Rack, Caernarvonshire.
The waterwheel in Snowdonia reminds the writer of
the one that he found in the path of a small stream
on a mountainside in Norway. The photograph shows,
running out from the centre of the wheel a rod which
turns with it and connects to the churn. When the
wheel is not in use a piece of turf is placed at the
top of the chute to divert the water and prevent
unnecessary wear on the axle.
N.E. Hill, Somerset
