††††The familiar waterwheel came into widespread use in Roman times, when it was used to grind corn or press olives. By the time of the Domesday Book in 1086, there were over 7000 water mills in Britain alone. Water wheels remained a prime source of power until the development of reliable steam engines in the 1700s.
In 1827, Benoit Fourneyron built the first enclosed water turbine, which was based on the development of the waterwheel. Paddle wheel steamboats, which appeared in the 18th century, also used waterwheel technology.
