Färna Ironworks Environment
Färna Ironworks is located between Lake Norrsjön and Lake Lillsjön, east of Skinnskatteberg, surrounded by a beautiful park. On a sunny summer day, it’s easy to stroll around here and enjoy the serene nature. It wasn’t always this pleasant, though. In earlier times, it’s doubtful that many workers were content. Like most manors, Färna has an intriguing history.
In the early 1600s, there was a blast furnace with a hammer owned by the Crown. But it wasn’t until the enterprising widow Edla Widiksdotter took over the hammer in the 1630s that things improved significantly. She managed the operations so well that the furnace was granted the privilege to produce 1,200 ship pounds of bar iron.
During the 1700s, the ironworks expanded further, adding several forges to refine the bar iron. In the mid-1700s, Hindrich and his sister Eva Margareta Wilkens owned Färna. They were greatly assisted by the talented young bookkeeper and manager Jacob Ramsell. Coming from a poor background, Jacob managed to educate himself in mining.
Eva Margareta fell in love with Jacob, much to her brother’s annoyance. But love triumphed, and Eva Margareta and Jacob were eventually married.
Jacob became a skilled businessman and was knighted into the Order of Vasa. He built the first manor house at Färna.
In 1833, Count Carl Johan von Hermansson became the ironmaster of Färna Ironworks after a legal inheritance dispute. Carl Johan was a despotic man with little regard for his workers. According to legend, he attempted to pass a proposal in the parliament suggesting that old and infirm workers who could no longer contribute to production should be executed. However, he didn’t anticipate the blacksmiths at Färna retaliating by forging a neck collar, which they managed to place around his neck.
During the count’s era, large-scale operations were considered economically viable. Färna already included several other ironworks, and von Hermansson continued this trend. Bockhammar, Trummelsberg, Finnbo, Björnhyttan, Virsbo, and many mines were associated with Färna at this time. He also renovated the manor house, giving it its current appearance.
However, in the late 1800s and early 1900s, the various properties were sold off, and in 1930, iron production at Färna ceased.
In contrast to the myth about Carl Johan von Hermansson’s views on his workers’ fates, his son, Carl Fredrik, was concerned about dignity in death. With great care, he chose his favorite spot near the manor, where he ordered the construction of a grand and unique mausoleum made of slag mosaic for himself and his family. The mausoleum still stands, though Carl Fredrik has since been moved to Gunnilbo Cemetery, where he rests beside his wife.
Facts
Färna was inhabited as early as the 1500s. The place name “Fegernä” is documented from 1467. Färna Ironworks was a Crown ironworks and is known to have existed in 1607. In 1617, King Gustav II Adolf granted its use to Halfvar Olsson. The manor house was built in 1776.
Today, Färna boasts a beautiful manor environment dating back to 1857 with a slag stone mausoleum.
The manor park features a marked walking trail and the famous mausoleum.