The present configuration of the Fiskars ironworks has been moulded over four centuries. The ironworks was built on the Fiskars River, which flows through a valley that extends from Lake Degersjö to Pohja Bay. The upper rapids are near the lake, and there are a millrace and more rapids one kilometre downstream. Ever since the 17^th century, mills specializing in refining iron and copper have been built on these two rapids.

Without water power and blast furnaces to smelt iron ore, the industrial production of iron would be impossible.  The earliest flowing furnaces were dug into the ground and had a natural ventilation system but already in the Middle Ages, blast furnaces were beginning to replace small pig iron furnaces in the Nordic region. Ore was no longer lifted from the lake beds, it was economical to transport it over longer distances. Finland was rich not only in water power but also in woodlands, and it had a number of suitable harbours. With the harnessing of water power, it was possible to use larger bellows, furnaces and hammers. Iron-making thus moved from forests to the river banks.

The founder of the Fiskars ironworks was Dutch. Peter Thorwöste came to Turku via Stockholm in the 17^th century as an agent for an important merchant. A shrewd businessman, he soon became very wealthy. In order to expand the ironworks, Jakob Wolle, the then owner of the Antskog works, had borrowed money from Thorwöste. As he proved unable to pay back the loan, the ironworks became Thorwöste´s property. He gained full proprietorship in 1647. In 1649 he was granted permission to set up a blast furnace and bar hammer in Fiskars, and so the ironworks came to be.

Ore for Fiskars was shipped from the Stockholm archipelago. To extract iron ore from the mines, wood was first burnt against the rock face. The heated stone was then cooled down rapidly using cold water, and the ore was extracted with bars and hooks. The ore was raised from the shafts either manually or by the help of ox-drawn pullies and then transported to the ironworks in big chunks.

The Fiskars ironworks used mainly ore from the Utö mines in the outer Stockholm archipelago. Utö was one of Sweden´s oldest iron ore mines and is mentioned in King Gustavus Vasa´s land register of 1559. The ore was shipped from Utö by ships or lighters, either rented or owned by the ironworks. The ore arrived in Pohjankuru were it was reloaded on smaller barges and transported along the Fiskars River to the ironworks.

Along the Fiskars River, there were three rapids. The heavy crushernhammers on the eastern bank of the lower rapids were powered by a water-wheel. The chunks of ore were first crushed there, although waterpowered during droughts the hammers could not be used and the ore was crushed by hand. The crushed ore was then taken to the Fiskars blast furnace, built on the western bank of the lower rapids. In addition to iron ore, limestone and charcoal was also needed in the process. The charcoal was produced in kilns located close to the ironworks, so the charcoal could be shipped downstream easily.

Fiskars made nails, wire, knives, hoes and reinforced wheels from pig iron. The ironworks also made cast-iron products such as pots and frying pans. The finished goods were shipped by sea via the port of Pohjankuru either to Stockholm or to the provinces along the south of the Gulf of Finland. Some of the vessels were owned by the ironworks, while some where chartered. In the 17^th century, merchant shipping in the Baltic was dominated by the Dutch.

Fiskars attracted workers from near and afar. Iron-making required skilled labour. In the 1640s, Thorwöste was granted permission to hire specially trained people from abroad, i.e. Sweden, Germany and the Netherlands. Some German blacksmiths and a few Walloons moved to Fiskars at this time. More workers were recruited from the parish of Pohja.

The story of Fiskars ironworks is a testament to the blend of local resources, international trade, and skilled labor that laid the foundation for modern industry in Finland. Over the centuries, Fiskars evolved from a bustling center of iron production into a village renowned for its vibrant community of artisans, designers, and craftsmen. The rich history of the Fiskars River, which once powered the mills and forges, continues to flow through the heart of the village, connecting the past with the present. Today, Fiskars stands as a living symbol of innovation and creativity, where the legacy of its industrial roots is celebrated and preserved for future generations to explore and appreciate.

Source:

Fiskars 1649, 365 years of Finnish industrial history

Anniversary exhibition on display in the Clocktower building till the end of the year.

Open daily 11am-4pm!