Jädersbruk, smedjan

The farm forge you see here symbolizes the place where it all began when Gustav Vasa decided that a weapons factory should be built on Jäders holme to provide the Swedish armed forces with a uniform arsenal according to the European model.

In 1551, Gustav Vasa commissioned the bailiff of Arbogas, Nils Tulesson, to build a crafts village with forges on Jäders holme. A small part of the production that did not need water power was located in Arboga. The following year, manufacturing was up and running on Jäders holmar. Gustav Vasa saw all the advantages and opportunities of Jäders holmar.

The Arboga River provided water power for the water wheels that drove the hammers in the forges. The large forests around Jäders Holmar provided wood and coal for the hearths in the forges, as well as boards and planks for the new buildings. The surrounding farmers supplied the fuel. The mines in Bergslagen were close by and the pig iron came mainly from Hammarforsbruk or Stensta in northern Fellingsbro.

The shipping port and river in Arboga were not far away, the river having good connections with both the waters of Hjälmaren and Mälaren, where goods were transported by boat to cities such as Örebro and Stockholm. Large agricultural areas were nearby that provided all workers at the factory with food.

The smithy you are standing by was built by the Jädersbruksvänner association and was inaugurated in 2013. The model was common in the 19th century and was found on many farms around Sweden. According to the story, a real blacksmith has nothing under his smithy shirt, which the gracious lady at Herrgården experienced one midsummer when the blacksmiths showed "everything"... Thank you for listening!