The Pump at Beaumaris Gaol

The twin pumps, situated down in the prison well, were driven by a treadwheel connected via pulleys and belts to a twin-throw crank. Prisoners who were sentenced to hard labour spent 8 hours a day - 10 mins on, 10 mins off - working the treadwheel, during which time they "climbed 1½ miles" and in doing so lifted water from the well up into a cistern in the prison attic which, in turn, fed the cells with running water. A notice nearby states that the system was installed in 1867, although it also includes reports of its use before that date.

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