Industrial History Online
Treadwheel crane
Key Words :- crane
Address :- Guildford, Surrey
Grid Ref :- SU 99434 49434
Co-ordinates :- Lat 51.235436 , Long -0.577121
Local Authority :- Guildford Borough Council
Pre 1974 County :- Surrey
Site Status :- Scheduled Ancient Monument SAM
Historic England List No - 1005918, 1377866,
Description and History of Site:-
Crane which was powered by two men in the treadwheel.
Last used to transport the stone for Guildford Cathedral in c.1960, and is believed to have been the last working example in Great Britain.
Dismantled and re-erected on present site in c1970.
The only other comparable crane known to survive in England is at Harwich (qv).
Payne (1977): 'On a re-developed site opposite the bus station, an 18th-century crane operated by an 18ft wheel, which was probably turned by a donkey. Renovated in 1971. The wheel is housed in a weatherboarded and tiled shed.'
Haselfoot (1978): 'A splendid 18th-century slewing wooden crane on the quayside at Guildford, on the E side of the River Wey, opposite the bus station. The motive power was a large treadmill 20ft (6.1m) diameter by 4ft (1.22m) wide, housed in a wooden building alongside, with a chain to the hoisting hook. The whole installation is in good condition being preserved by the town and in the charge of Guildford Museum. Last used in 1908.'
Falconer (1980): 'An 18th-century timber-framed and weather-boarded cranehouse with a plain tile roof enclosing 19 ft diameter treadwheel. The wheel wound a chain attached to a jib crane on the wharf outside. A much smaller version of the Harwich dockyard crane (qv), this is probably the only treadmill powered crane still in situ in the country. The jib has a nominal safe load of 2 tons but has not been used since 1908.'
Crocker (1990): 'Wey Navigation crane, probably late 17th century, with chain and hook on moveable jib. The treadwheel, 18ft (5.5m) in diameter, is housed in a timber and tiled building. The crane was used until 1908. It was renovated by Guildford Borough Council for the National Trust in 1971 and re-erected on the redeveloped riverside, near its original position on the former Guildford Wharf. '
Further Reading and References:-
Payne, Gordon A. 'Surrey's Industrial Archaeology'. Phillimore & Co, 1977
Haselfoot, A J. 'The Batsford Guide to the Industrial Archaeology of South-East England'. Batsford, 1978
Falconer, Keith. 'Guide to England's Industrial Heritage'. Batsford, 1980
Crocker, Glenys. 'A Guide to the Industrial Archaeology of Surrey'. Association for Industrial Archaeology, 1990
Otter, R A. 'Civil Engineering Heritage - Southern England'. Institution of Civil Engineers, 1994
https://www.surreyarchaeology.org.uk/content/sihg_sia
Help us improve this entry
Grid Ref :- SU 99434 49434
Co-ordinates :- Lat 51.235436 , Long -0.577121
Local Authority :- Guildford Borough Council
Pre 1974 County :- Surrey
Site Status :- Scheduled Ancient Monument SAM
Historic England List No - 1005918, 1377866,
Crane which was powered by two men in the treadwheel.
Last used to transport the stone for Guildford Cathedral in c.1960, and is believed to have been the last working example in Great Britain.
Dismantled and re-erected on present site in c1970.
The only other comparable crane known to survive in England is at Harwich (qv).
Payne (1977): 'On a re-developed site opposite the bus station, an 18th-century crane operated by an 18ft wheel, which was probably turned by a donkey. Renovated in 1971. The wheel is housed in a weatherboarded and tiled shed.'
Haselfoot (1978): 'A splendid 18th-century slewing wooden crane on the quayside at Guildford, on the E side of the River Wey, opposite the bus station. The motive power was a large treadmill 20ft (6.1m) diameter by 4ft (1.22m) wide, housed in a wooden building alongside, with a chain to the hoisting hook. The whole installation is in good condition being preserved by the town and in the charge of Guildford Museum. Last used in 1908.'
Falconer (1980): 'An 18th-century timber-framed and weather-boarded cranehouse with a plain tile roof enclosing 19 ft diameter treadwheel. The wheel wound a chain attached to a jib crane on the wharf outside. A much smaller version of the Harwich dockyard crane (qv), this is probably the only treadmill powered crane still in situ in the country. The jib has a nominal safe load of 2 tons but has not been used since 1908.'
Crocker (1990): 'Wey Navigation crane, probably late 17th century, with chain and hook on moveable jib. The treadwheel, 18ft (5.5m) in diameter, is housed in a timber and tiled building. The crane was used until 1908. It was renovated by Guildford Borough Council for the National Trust in 1971 and re-erected on the redeveloped riverside, near its original position on the former Guildford Wharf. '
Payne, Gordon A. 'Surrey's Industrial Archaeology'. Phillimore & Co, 1977
Haselfoot, A J. 'The Batsford Guide to the Industrial Archaeology of South-East England'. Batsford, 1978
Falconer, Keith. 'Guide to England's Industrial Heritage'. Batsford, 1980
Crocker, Glenys. 'A Guide to the Industrial Archaeology of Surrey'. Association for Industrial Archaeology, 1990
Otter, R A. 'Civil Engineering Heritage - Southern England'. Institution of Civil Engineers, 1994
https://www.surreyarchaeology.org.uk/content/sihg_sia
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Contributor :- Robert Mason - 16 August 2023
Copyright :- cc-by-nc-sa 4.0 © Robert Mason
Copyright :- cc-by-nc-sa 4.0 © Robert Mason