Landforsens hytta

Well preserved timber clad blast furnace from the end of 18th century.

 

Opening times:
Self-guided tour. Well signposted.
Gamla Hemmet Gästhem
tfn 0223-217 88. Lodging. Summer café in Karbenning. For information please contact the tourist office +46 (0)223 291 30.
Information: Norberg tourism.

 

 

 

 

Immediately to the south of the village of Karbenning, river Svartån forms some rapids known as Landforsen. Here there used to be several blast furnaces and hammer forges. In the 17th century, on the west side of the river, the blast furnace was located together with the hammer forge belonging to the local peasant miners (bergsmän) of the nearby village Hästbäck.

 

At the end of the 17th century the industry was taken over by Per Larsson Gyllenhöök, founder of the Engelsberg Ironworks, today listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site. The Landforsen blast furnaces closed down in the 1840’s.

 

The timber clad blast furnace still stands on the site where it was erected in the late 18th century. Another such furnace remains at the World Heritage Engelsberg.

 

Around the blast furnace shaft thick stone walls stand and on top of this a timbered log construction. The water was directed via a channel to an overshoot wheel. The remains of the wheel house walls can be seen by the south west corner of the furnace building.

 

In the past the stream was crossed by a high wooden bridge. The stone abutment still remains. On the slope opposite the furnace one finds the remains of roasting pits built of slag stone. The ore was heated up before it was crushed and smelted in the blast furnace. Every partner of the furnace had his own store of ore, charcoal, wood and lime which he brought there during the winter so it would be in place when the furnace was lit in the early spring and smelting could begin. Behind the blast furnace there was also a manor house with a large garden for the inspector, who lived there. The ruins of the house and cellar can still be seen.

 

If you stand today on the slope by the stream looking at the big square blast furnace building, it is difficult to imagine the noise and bustle of people that once filled this place.