Chasing water wheels in Madeira’s north.

High up on the mountainside of Sao Jorge are two working water wheels; the Moinho a Agua (a 300 year old working flour mill) and the Serragem de agua da Achadinha ( a water saw mill that is run for tourists on a donation basis).

Moinho a Agua

We went first in search of this working flour mill but when we arrived the place was boarded up and no water from the Levada do Reis was flowing through it. I am guessing that it caters mostly for tourists during summer months which is a pity because it is the last working watermill on the island.

I found this video of the mill working on YouTube (opens in new tab) from 2012.

The mill house

The grinding stones.

Stairs up to the levada

We were definitely at the right place

The Water wheels’ mill building

Book Cheap Accommodation with Booking

Booking.com

Serragem de Agua da Achadinha

So instead we went looking for the Serragem de agua da Achadinha instead. It is only about 1km up the road and thankfully they were open and happy to show us the sawmill in action.

As the girls weren’t very interested in coming, only three of us went and it was lovely to spend time with the boy by himself. He loves all things mechanical and engineering, so this was a great time for Rich to explain the physics behind the movement of water.

Turning on the water

The water powering the wheels

Watching the water being turned on

Understand How The Wheel Works

Rich was in his scientific element explaining how the water wheel was energised. Our boy loves everything science based so he lapped this up.

Watching the noisy saw

Rich explaining how the water wheel works to power the saw.

Sawing the wood

The saw is very noisy and in order to cut succinctly, it is painfully slow. They can cut much quicker but the result would be messy!

Watching the saw, saw through the wood

Watching the saw pass through

The saw’s blade

Inside the hut

The hut has a collection of olden day paraphernalia; including the sleeping section. Let’s hope they didn’t try to sleep whilst the saw was sawing because it’s very noisy!