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History of the Silvermine in Sala
The Silver Mine in Sala has for ages been an impressing object for people all over the world. Unknown how old the mine is there are reasons to believe it is from the Middle Age. Continuous mining started in the beginning of the 16th century and lasted till the beginning of the 20th century.
The mine consists of sooty, horizontal galleries at roughly 20 km and where huge cavities and shafts will comfort the visitor’s imagination. In the major part of the mine was a method called ”the fire-setting method” used where wood brought to a fire was put against the wall to make the rock crack due to the difference in temperature. The miners used their simple tools to pick out the rocks, piece by piece.
The miners “believed” in a “ghostly being”, called the Mine Lady, who watched and protected the miners while being underground (but only if they followed her rules). Whistling, yelling and swearing was forbidden and the miners had to knock three times in the wall on their way down in the mine to let her know about their “fire lightning”.
The Silver Mine in Sala was during a long period of time Sweden’s biggest producer of silver and periodically one of Europe’s most important producer. Most of the silver was used for coinage but it was also used for art. The precious metal has been very important for Sweden throughout many years, why the state contributed with donations and subsidies for the mining.
The mighty king Gustav Vasa, regent in the beginning of the 16th century, called the mine the State Treasury. The mine has had two hey day periods, the first one during Gustav Vasa’s regent time and the other one in the middle of the 17th century. During the 19th century other metals, for example lead and zinc, became more important for mining.
The area above ground is 700 m long from south to north and there one can see stately head frames as well as other buildings important for the mine, for example official’s homes and ore barns. Many of the buildings from the 18th and 19th century are still in use today but for other purposes. In the area around the mine it is possible to see canals and remnants from the old days.
The silver production, made in a smelting house a few kilometers away carries several very
detailed process steps. In the end of the 19th century a new smelting house was raised, adjacent to the mine. Sala got its incorporation as a town in 1624, partly due to the importance of the mine. Hence the miners were moved to the new town only 2 kilometers away from the mine. Even in today’s Sala there are old mansions, names of blocks and streets, artificial lakes and canals bringing mining memories to the visitor.
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INFORMATION!
