The ironworks -Hassel and Eidsfos

When the glassworks at Nøstetangen started in 1741. Hasselverket was already a well-established company, more than a hundred years old and a recognized ironworks. It produced both wrought iron, which the blacksmiths used as raw material for their products, and many types of cast iron products. Most famous - both in contemporary and posterity - was probably Hassel for his "iron tile stoves", with iron plates that were small works of art. They were cast in wooden forms with carvings made by some of the leading wood carvers in the country.

The Rococo period in the last half of the 18th century is considered a time of greatness for this kiln art, and the Rococo kilns from Hassel are an interesting parallel to the glass art from Nøstetangen in the same period. The motifs were taken from biblical history, but also from Greek and Roman mythology. The country's kings were also hailed, and some of the very richest citizens could also specially order stoves with their own monogram.

Owners in this period were the Neumann family, relatives of Cappelen on Fossesholm and members of the local trade patricians. Jacob Hansen Neumann was the owner from 1746 until he died in 1777. Then stood his widow,

The plant's main mines were located in Hasselåsen on Modum, but it also had mines elsewhere on Eiker and not least near Arendal, where iron ore of a very special quality was mined, which was transported by sea to Eiker. The plant with the large blast furnace was located at Daler on Eiker and was operated with hydropower from the Bingselva. Together with the sawmills, which lay a little further down the river, it laid the foundation for the settlement Skotselv

Eidsfos jernverk

Eidsfos jernverk ble startet i 1697 av Caspar Herman von Hausmann – morfar til Caspar Herman von Storm, som spilte en så sentral rolle ved Nøstetangen glassverk. Jernverket lå i Hof prestegjeld i Jarlsberg amt, men det hadde likevel tilknytning til Eiker på flere måter. Mange av verkets gruver lå i området mellom Drammensdalen og Eikeren – de fleste ved Konnerud, men til dels også på Eiker. Bøndene på Eiker var trolig involvert i malmkjørsel for verket og i leveranser av kull og trevirke. Sammen med Kongsberg Sølvverk og Hassel jernverk var Eidsfos en konkurrent for Nøstetangen i kampen om skogressursene.

Også mye av transporten til og fra Eidsfos gikk gjennom Eiker. Malm og andre varer til verket ble rodd oppover Drammenselva og Vestfosselva til Vestfossen og videre med seiljakter over Fiskumvannet og Eikeren. Sammen med tømmerfløtingen og varetransporten for Sølvverket, gjorde transporten til Hassel og Eidsfos at vannveien på Eiker ble viktige transportårer. Det var med på å sysselsette en voksende befolkning av husmenn og arbeidere.

LES MER OM JERNVERKET EIDSFOSS – NORGES BEST NEVARTE JERNVERKSSAMFUNN:

https://vestfoldmuseene.no/jernverket-eidsfoss/jernverkshistorien/