Hassel Iron Works

Hassel Iron Works (Norwegian: Hassel Jernværk; also rendered as Hassel jernverk in modern spelling) was a former mining and iron works company located near the village of Skotselv in Øvre Eiker, Buskerud, Norway, that existed from 1649 until 1854.^[1][2]

Hassel Iron Works received a royal privilege from King Frederick III of Denmark and Norway in 1649. The mines was in production until 1854, when the company was dissolved and its properties auctioned off. However some limited operations continued until the 1870s under new owners. Its most important mines were located at Hassel in Modum and Barbu near Arendal. The operation included a smelter with a large blast furnace. A large water wheel was used to drive the blower in the blast furnace. Hassel Iron Works also received ore from neighboring mines at Sveaas and Skredsvik in Modum, at Holtefjell, Dramdal and Såsen in Øvre Eiker and from Solberg and Åserud in Nedre Eiker.^[3][4]