Barker’s mill

waterwheel

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Last updated

June 22, 2026

Quick Summary

Barker's mill is a type of waterwheel that was popular in the mid-1700s. In this device, water flows into a rotating vertical tube and is then discharged tangentially through nozzles at the ends of two horizontal arms. This action causes the wheel to spin, and power is taken off via a rope or belt wound around the vertical tube. Barker's mill is an example of a reaction turbine, where the force of the water being expelled from the arms creates a reactive force that drives the wheel. This design was an early step in harnessing water power more efficiently.1

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Waterwheels
…device, commonly known as a Barker’s mill, water flowed into a rotating vertical tube before being discharged through nozzles at the end of two horizontal arms. These directed the water out tangentially, much in the way that a modern rotary lawn sprinkler does. A rope or belt wound around the…
Read More
…device, commonly known as a Barker’s mill, water flowed into a rotating vertical tube before being discharged through nozzles at the end of two horizontal arms. These directed the water out tangentially, much in the way that a modern rotary lawn sprinkler does. A rope or belt wound around the…
Read More