Employed in Petworth 'gaol', as a method of punishment, was the 'treadwheel'.
It served no purpose other than punishment. Treading the wheel was similar to climbing a flight of stairs. Rules decreed that it turned 48 steps per minute and that each prisoner stepped through 11,340 feet, or just over 2 miles per day. This was the rough equivelent of climbing mount Snowdon 3 times per day 6 days per week. The distance had to be achieved within a specified time, 10 hours in summer, 7 in winter.
If a person stumbled on the wheel they would be mangled. There was nothing to hold on to, as even the handwheel turned also. There was also a 'silent & separate ' system employed here. All prisoners were kept apart and were not allowed any communication with any other person. As well as the 'treadmill' for men only, Petworth had one other hard-labour machine for men and women, called the 'crank'. 30 prisoners at a time had to each turn a handle against a resisting pressure - 13,200 times in a 10 hour day.
 
As a punishment the 'wheel' was first recommended by the Penitentiary Act of 1779.
It was outlawed in 1898.