Importance of mining

Early in the mining era, works were mainly owned by farmers, who had significant principal or additional income from the mines. They were also active in the transport system required for the operation of the furnaces and hammers, and for shipping the finished products. The river was a key transport route for the iron industry as early as the Middle Ages.

The development that began with the Sala silver mine in the 12th century, leading to the establishment of new, large ironworks primarily in the 17th century, affected the local population even more. They gained more contact with the outside world and made a significant, lasting mark on the countryside and the local culture. 

The many ironworks in the area received thousands of ore shipments each year from the mines in Dannemora and Norberg as well as the many mines in the area. Even more numerous were the charcoal shipments from area charcoal stacks. Each ironworks received thousands of loads of coal from the surrounding forests and ore from even more distant mines during the winter months. In addition, firewood and timber were shipped to the works and the mines, and pig iron was sent to the foundries.

The products, including pig iron and finished products such as anchors and materiel for the armed forces, were transported to the shipping ports in Gävle and Västerås. Among all the people involved in all this, the actual ironworks workers were a minority. In one period in Gysinge, for example, there were 50 ironworks employees while a total of 3,000 people were needed for the works’ operations. The Walloons are known for their work as smiths and other foundry staff, but in fact more Walloons were charcoal burners and woodcutters.

All of these shipments, many of which covered quite long distances by the standards of the day, brought together people in various parts of the area, and forged bonds between people that came to shape the culture of the communities here. However, the area is not only known as a historical meeting place for people, but also as a place for meetings between cultures.

Skilled German mining experts came to the region as early as the Middle Ages, and in the 16th century under King Gustavus Vasa’s era a new wave of Germans arrived. They were the core of Swedish iron production until the early 17th century. Even more important to the industry’s development than the Germans were the Walloons from Belgium, who came in even greater numbers, first to the northern Uppland ironworks and then spreading through the area.

The meeting with these skilled professionals at various levels and over time has made deep and lasting changes in the technological and cultural development in the area. This is most clearly visible in the changes made by the ruling class, usually of foreign origin, on the local ironworks. They created the manor culture, the special type of ironworks manors with park-like grounds and elegant buildings and interiors. The structure of the works towns has been maintained and their patterns are still discernible in the modern towns.

Technological advances, the innovation culture created by the area’s mining industry, are also significant. For example, Christopher Polhem, the father of Swedish mechanics, founded the Stjärnsund ironworks, and mechanical genius Gustav de Laval worked at the nearby Kloster ironworks. The first successful Bessemer blower, which revolutionised the steel industry worldwide, was installed at the Edske blast furnace. In Gysinge, the world’s first electric steel furnace went on line in 1900. Last but not least, Louis De Geer founded the 17th-century Uppland ironworks and played a key role in the Walloon immigration. He is called the father of Swedish industry.