Grängesberg Mining Area
Sometimes, it takes fresh eyes to see the potential in something. Iron ore has been mined by miners in Grängesberg since the Middle Ages. However, mining didn’t truly take off until the late 19th century, when London banker Ernest Cassel heard about the roughly 200 open pits and mines in the area. He invested in the mines and founded Grängesbergs Grufve AB. Suddenly, Grängesberg became one of the most important locations in Sweden.
Everything happened at breakneck speed. Masses of people moved here because workers were in high demand. There were always jobs available.
Cassel’s idea was that the company would manage all stages of production, including transporting the ore to the shipping port. This led to the establishment of Trafikaktiebolaget Grängesberg–Oxelösund Järnvägar (TGOJ), with a railway from Grängesberg to the port in Oxelösund.
To quickly launch this massive operation, not only did the mine need to expand, but so did the surrounding infrastructure. Waste was dumped into nearby tarns and lakes since environmental awareness had not yet been developed. New dams, water reservoirs, and canals were constructed to harness the water power required.
Over the years, the mine continued to grow. Eventually, people living nearby had to move, houses and all, as the expanding mine undermined the land beneath their homes. Buildings were torn down, and even the old train station, church, and cemetery with all its graves were relocated. The church was rebuilt in Orsa.
The last houses in the old center of Grängesberg were moved in 1976, when there was still great optimism about the future of the town. However, just over a decade later, it was all over. The last ore train to Oxelösund departed in 1990.
MINERS’ HOUSING
With so many people suddenly moving to Grängesberg, finding accommodation was a challenge. The mining company built 22 houses, each with four apartments, in two different areas of Grängesberg: Stora Hagen and Källfallet.
The floor plans were inspired by English designs, with each apartment offering 50 square meters, consisting of one room, a kitchen, and a pantry.
Similar workers’ housing was later built in many other parts of Sweden, modeled after Grängesberg.
MOJSEN initially served as a smithy, producing steel structures for the mine. Once those were completed, the building was converted into a dining hall for the miners. Times were changing, and the company recognized the importance of their employees’ physical well-being. Following doctors’ recommendations, they even added a rest hall where workers could relax after their meals.
Facts
Mining environment from the 1940s–50s. Mines known since the 1500s. By the 1800s, there were around 200 open pits and mines here. In 1975, 1,600 workers were employed. The mine closed in 1989, but buildings, the environment, and unique nature remain, providing a glimpse into the area’s history. Today, there is also a mining history experience center located in Mojsen.