The Norwegian Directorate for Cultural Heritage is preserving the Odals Værk farm in Innlandet. "This is a rare, well-preserved example of a large and important facility in Innlandet, with traces of industry and life over the last 200 years," says department director Turid Kolstadløkken.
At the end of the 17th century, iron ore was discovered in the ground beneath Valstad farm, and Odals Værk was later established here. The plant is located in Sør-Odal municipality, not far from the Glomma river, and with forests and waterways nearby, it was easy to obtain energy for the plant's operations.
"We are preserving both the buildings, gardens, and the area surrounding the factory," says Kolstadløkken. "The factory bears traces of several social classes that were closely linked to its operations. The preservation will highlight Odals Værk as an important community builder in its time and a major workplace with a long history in Sør-Odal.".
The works developed into a community of its own, with an ironworks, sawmill, agriculture with 65 tenant farms and timber barns, brickworks, distillery and brewery, and associated school and poor relief system.
"It is important to preserve the Nordre Vika farmstead as an example of how important farmsteads were for the community," Kolstadløkken emphasizes. "Overall, the site has great value in terms of knowledge and experience.".
The versatile industrial history is clearly visible in the large, well-preserved buildings and outdoor areas. Today, Odals Værkeit is an active farm with a focus on forestry.
Odals Værk has a long and exciting industrial history, says Knut Hvithammer, mayor of Sør-Odal municipality, and it is also an important and beautiful agricultural and forestry property. Odals Værk documents a very important part of Sør-Odal's history and identity. The preservation decision is therefore important for future generations, who will be able to enjoy documented knowledge about the past.
In a conservation area, the owners are always particularly important. They are the ones who will maintain and take care of the property in the future.
"We have enjoyed excellent cooperation with the Norwegian Directorate for Cultural Heritage right up to the preservation order," says Christine Opsahl. "The fact that the entire facility is now preserved motivates and obliges us as owners to ensure that Odals Værk lives on as a cultural monument for the enjoyment and experience of future generations.".
History of the work
The ironworks produced a range of small and large products, such as nails, spikes, and cannon barrels. The works flourished from 1764 to 1823, but in 1835 the ironworks was closed down and operations were focused more on the other industries on the property.
The main building and the two side buildings at the factory were listed as early as 1941. The large green areas surrounding the factory span a period of almost 200 years, with traces of formal garden styles, romantic landscape parks, and neoclassical features. Today, the green spaces are simpler than they were in the past.
"The gardens and parks at Odals Værk reflect a long period of changing ideals, and both individually and collectively, the green spaces at Odals Værk have great historical value," explains Kolstadløkken.
The powder magazine and grain store are, in addition to the main buildings, the only buildings remaining from the ironworks period. They are therefore important to preserve, together with operational buildings such as the brewery and brewery cellar, wood store and barn, in order to show the diverse operations at the works. The preservation order also covers parts of Lake Fløyta, which was dammed so that the water power could be used for the operation. In addition, the carpenter's shed and the tool shed with earth cellar are protected.
High architectural and cultural-historical value
The purpose of the preservation order is to preserve Odals Værk as a facility of high architectural and cultural-historical value. The facility showcases cultural heritage linked to industry and agriculture in the period from 1764 to around 1950. The preservation order shall ensure that the buildings, gardens, and parks can display their distinctive features from different periods for new generations, and shall preserve the architecture and the connection between the buildings and the outdoor areas. The material traces of the activities and the diversity in housing and lifestyles in different social strata shall be preserved.
Nine buildings will be preserved both inside and out, while one building will be preserved only on the outside. Green areas, courtyards, roads with fences and walls, as well as several ponds and structures in the river will also be preserved.
The area surrounding the mill, including farmland and grazing areas, Lake Fløyta, the area around the sawmill, and former garden areas, are protected.
