Karmansbo bruksmiljö

The place name Karmansbo comes from the medieval name Karlman. It was originally called Frölischhammar after the man who founded the mill in the 1600s. He gathered many of the small forges that existed along Hedströmmen and merged them into a larger one at Karmansbo. The hammer forge was in use until 1958 when it was closed down.

Pig iron came to Karmansbo from various blast furnaces in the area. From the turn of the century 1900, most of the iron came from Liens blast furnace in Riddarhyttan. In the plant's Lancashire furnaces, the iron was remelted and processed to become forgeable. The iron that came from Karmansbo was of high quality and was used to make various tools that were sold all over the world.

Karmansbo was a bustling community, and the forge was an important workplace. In 1929, 72 people were employed at the mill. A lot of work was also required outside the forge, such as the production of charcoal and transportation to and from the mill. There were also brickworks, sawmills and agriculture.

During the great spring flood of 1977, large parts of the forge were destroyed and it was not thought possible to preserve it. But against all odds, both the building and the machinery were restored and today the 7.5 ton mumbling hammer can be heard again. The water wheel and gutter have been reconstructed, the rolling mill and the blowing machine have been repaired, and all of this makes Karmansbo a living plant, unique in its kind.

In the blacksmith's barn above the forge, there is a mill apartment furnished from the turn of the century. The impressive manor house from 1759 is right in the immediate area.

Every summer on the first Saturday in July, it is "Iron Day" in Karmansbo smithy. The lancashire furnaces are lit, iron ingots are melted, water wheels, mumbling hammers and rolling mills are run and bar iron is produced.