So what was a wheelwright Yorkshire Dales National Park

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Meet Albert. He used to be a wheelwright here in the Yorkshire Dales during the 1940s. • So what was a wheelwright? • A wheelwright was a skilled craftsman who made and repaired cartwheels out of wood. Albert worked six days a week, Monday to Friday from 8 p.m. to 5 p.m. and 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. on a Saturday and six shillings a week, which is the equivalent to £18 today. The job was hard work and had a very complex process. • What is a cartwheel actually made from? • It is made from three different types of wood, elm, oak and ash. A cartwheel is made from three sections. The naff - the hub, made out of elm. The spokes made from oak which is strong and everlasting. The fellies - the outer rim is made from ash, which is stone durable with a long grain. • After selecting the correct materials, it's time to prepare the wood components using traditional woodworking tools like saws, planes, chisels, a lathe, augers, and rimmers. To start, create the cylindrical naff using a lathe. Then evenly cut holes for the spokes to be inserted. The naffe is then taken to the blacksmiths to have the metal bands and axle sleeve fitted. • The naffe comes back to the wheelwright for the spokes to be inserted before attaching the fellies to the ends of the spokes to create a circular wheel structure. Then check the alignment and symmetry of the wheel, adjusting the spokes and fellies to ensure the wheel is round. Blacksmith's fire heat a metal hoop to expand it and then fit it around the wheel. • Once fitted, they quickly cool it down with cold water to stop it burning the wood and allow it to contract and grip the wheel tightly, giving it strength for at least 30 years. Make any final adjustments to ensure the wheel is balanced and function smoothly. Then add the finishing touches such as smoothing the surface before applying a protective finish such as varnish or paint to preserve the wood. • To finalize the wheel. Inspect it. Making sure there are no defects or weaknesses before applying it to the cart. Now we know how wheelwrights used to craft cartwheels. • To find out more visit the www.dalescountrysidemuseum.org.uk • #yorkshiredales #history #wheelwright

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