One of the most obvious factors that made the site perfect for a grinding mill, in this case Shepherd Wheel was that River Porter, which powered the mill, was a powerful and fast flowing river. It meant that the water wheel could be turned efficiently to power the grindstones inside the mill. Also, River Porter was very reliable, it didn’t usually freeze in the winter and it didn’t usually dry up in the summer. The river was almost always fast flowing because it was in a tight L-shaped valley.
Another factor was that there were a lot of natural resources in Sheffield. Shepherd Wheel was built in the woodlands which meant there was a lot of wood nearby, wood was used for fuels (charcoal). Coal was also used as fuel and was obtainable from nearby. There was also sandstone/millstone grit used as grindstones. Iron ore and lead was used nearby to actually make the tools to be sharpened and lime was also found in Sheffield which was used as flux in furnaces. None of these resources were unique in Sheffield, however the fact that they were all found together (along with fast flowing water) was unique.
One of the most important reasons Shepherd Wheel was built here was that there was a lot of furnaces and forges nearby. This meant that there were plenty of tools to be sharpened and they could be transported to Shepherd Wheel easily and quickly. Not only the tools could be transported to the grinding mill quickly but they would be sold quickly too. Sheffield had a great reputation for good quality iron tools and was in high demand from not only England but from countries all over the world. This meant that there were a lot of jobs for the grinders.
Another reason the site was so perfect for Shepherd Wheel to be built on was because there were a lot of local villages nearby where the grinders could live (Ranmoor and Crosspool). This meant that local people could work at the grinding mill.
Also, the site was generally flat so the mill could be built without having to flatten the land. Since the site was an L-shaped valley, no ground had to be flattened in order to build the mill or the reservoir.
The reasons why Shepherd Wheel was built here was not always geographical. The Industrial Revolution was one of the main reasons so many small grinding mills and forges were built in the first place. As England’s population became larger and larger there were a lot of demand in jobs and housing which meant a lot or factories and small workhouses started to be built. As Sheffield’s population increased the number of grinding wheels increased vastly and quickly. Iron began to be mass produced so more and more grinding wheels were built. The Industrial Revolution was a big reason Shepherd Wheel was built here.
In conclusion, Sheffield on the whole was a great town for grinding wheels to be built in. It had all the factors needed for a grinding wheel to be successful. Shepherd Wheel was built here because of the natural resources, Sheffield’s specialism and reputation for great quality iron tools, forges nearby and the landscape.
