Work has begun on restoring Groudle Glen’s water wheel to its former glory.

Scaffolding now surrounds Little Isabella and the rotten wooden wheelhouse has already been carefully deconstructed.

The once-picturesque wheel had fallen into a sorry state of repair in recent years.

Onchan Commissioners have reached an agreement with Laxey mining company MMD GPHC Ltd to demolish and rebuild the wheelhouse and restore the wheel, which dates from the late 19th century.

The wheel will be restored to its former glory and the intention is to rebuild the wheelhouse on a like for like basis.

Groudle Glen Railway posted on its Facebook page: ’Great to see that the long awaited restoration work has begun on the waterwheel in the glen.

’A huge thank you to Laxey Company MMD for supporting this work... we can’t wait to see the finished result.’

Built in 1893, with the arrival of the Manx Electric Railway to Groudle, Little Isabella has not turned since 2002 when she was badly damaged in a storm.

It had been the subject of a row in recent years over its ownership and who was responsible for its maintenance.

Onchan Commissioners own the land but initially claimed responsibility lay with the Department for the Environment, Food and Agriculture, which the department denied.

Last year, the Commissioners estimated it would cost £200,000 cost to repair the wheel and this could not be justified. Garff MHK Daphne Caine has been praised for contacting MMD to advise on the restoration of the wheel.

MMD has posted a time lapse video of the wheelhouse being taken down on its website.

Go to: https://mmdsizers.app.box.com/s/enpkg4m5el2ghmyi1iqqbigo6pb5dvhy?fbclid=IwAR0nCI5nk9weJjo286eF-F9UA16StjAv7xL9vbmtHHNi8BvFuKbggwsVtMM