# Strange Water Wheels at Beachville explained — Poetry

> Chapter companion for Poetry by James McIntyre.

## What happens

This chapter describes the invention of John Cross, a laborer who created unusual water wheels at Beachville to pump water from quarry beds. The wheels, driven by the river current rather than steam, attract curiosity from travelers. The quarries provide good building stone and stone for perpetual kilns, conveniently located near railway depots.

## Themes in this chapter

### Progress and Technology

John Cross's invention of water wheels to pump quarries dry represents local ingenuity and technological adaptation.

### Agriculture and Rural Economy

The quarry operations and perpetual kilns highlight the rural economy's reliance on natural resources and industry.

## Character check-ins

### John Cross

Invented the strange water wheels at Beachville while working as a laborer.

## Key lines

> Here in the river you descry Wheels revolve to keep quarries dry; Elsewhere such pumps are drove by steam, But here by current of the stream.

In the river, you can see wheels turning to keep the quarries dry, while elsewhere such pumps are powered by steam, here they are driven by the river's current.

_Highlights the innovative use of water power instead of steam._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/poetry_12_se/chapters/strange-water-wheels-at-beachville
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/poetry_12_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/poetry_12_se/chapters