A huge water wheel at Nant-y-Coy, Treffgarne, is on the move again following repair work.

Many water wheel enthusiasts have visited to view the wheel in action, and visitors to the mill have been delighted by the feature.

Weighing around four tons, with a diameter of four metres, the wheel was installed in 1884 as part of a major renovation, replacing the earlier mechanism, which was beyond repair.

The impressive wheel was out of action for the summer after a major part of its mechanism failed.

The water wheel had been sidelined for some time due mainly to problems with the primary gear-wheel. This gear, which drives all the shafts and gearing within the mill, is mounted on the octagonal shaft which runs from the water wheel into the mill building.

New wedges had to be fitted to make sure the gear-wheel was aligned correctly and securely on the shaft.

Custom brackets were made to hold these wedges in place against the massive forces generated by the flow of water over the mill wheel.

A Nant-y-Coy spokesman said: “We all held our breath and crossed our fingers as the sluice gate was opened and the water poured down the leet and onto the over-shot waterwheel. Slowly, the force of the flow persuaded the huge bulk of the wheel to turn and we all breathed a sigh of relief.”

The renovation work was carried out by local engineers from Gwaun Workforce and A. J. Owen of Letterston.