Water Mill

The old aching wood and metal turn for the millionth time as water endlessly adds to the pressure that keeps this wheel working. The ancient device is an amazing legacy that leaves its mark upon every observer, reminding them of the potential that nature has to supply us with endless access to power. The Romans used both fixed and floating water wheels and introduced water power to other provinces of the Roman Empire. So-called 'Greek Mills' used water wheels with a horizontal wheel (and vertical shaft). A "Roman Mill" features a vertical wheel (on a horizontal shaft). Greek style mills are the older and simpler of the two designs, but only operate well with high water velocities and with small diameter millstones. Roman style mills are more complicated as they require gears to transmit the power from a shaft with a horizontal axis to one with a vertical axis. Although to date only a few dozen Roman mills are archaeologically traced, the widespread use of aqueducts in the period suggests that many remain to be discovered. Recent excavations in Roman London, for example, have uncovered what appears to be a tide mill together with a possible sequence of mills worked by an aqueduct running along the side of the River Fleet. This sound uses the following file from Freesound: http://www.freesound.org/samplesViewSingle.php?id=122588