Industriemuseum Freudenthaler Sensenhammer

About the museum

A water-powered hammer mill has been documented at the site in Freudenthal on the Dhünn since 1778. At first steel blanks were produced here; from 1837 the Kuhlmann entrepreneurial family, under the firm H. P. Kuhlmann Söhne, made scythes and sickles. Over generations the operation was expanded and modernized, including a boiler house for a steam engine; at peak times up to 200,000 scythes left the works each year.

After the factory was shut down in 1987, the ensemble with its production rooms, machines, and tools remained largely preserved. The Förderverein Freudenthaler Sensenhammer e.V. (friends' association) set up a museum in it, which opened in 2005. The present condition essentially corresponds to the technical state of the 1960s.

The tour leads through the permanent exhibition on the second floor on the cultural history of the scythe and sickle and the people of the factory – from the entrepreneur and the Recker (forge hammerman) to the only female grinder – and then through the forging hall, hardening shop, straightening shop, grinding shop, and polishing shop. Many machines, from the old tail hammer to air hammers, are functional and run at regular demonstrations.

The museum is part of the European Route of Industrial Heritage and is also a cultural venue with concerts in the forging hall, readings and exhibitions in the gallery, and a branch of the Leverkusen registry office.

Highlights

• Originally preserved scythe factory with all production rooms
• Working forging hammers and air hammers
• Forging demonstrations from March to November
• Water power and transmissions
• Concert series in the historic forging hall

Permanent exhibitions

• Sensen und Sicheln / Sensenproduktion der Firma H. P. Kuhlmann Söhne – Cultural history of harvesting tools and the people of the factory, with interactive stations and a model of the Freudenthal.
• Historische Schmiede – Forging hall, drawing-out shop, hardening shop, grinding shop, and polishing shop with original, partly operational machines.

Founded

2005

Operated by

Förderverein Freudenthaler Sensenhammer e.V.

Director

Jürgen Bandsom

Admission & discounts

Forging demonstrations with a tour are sold separately at the museum ticket desk or through Reservix.

Accessibility

The museum hasn’t published any information on this – please ask the museum directly.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide
• Hands-on stations

Holiday programs, workshops, and an annual family day in summer; at the ticket desk there are often small scavenger hunts with prizes. At some events you can forge a keepsake for free without registration. The permanent exhibition has interactive stations.

Getting there & parking

Amenities & dining

• Museum shop

Museum shop in the entrance area; gallery for exhibitions.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent
• Weddings / ceremonies

The forging hall is a branch of the Leverkusen registry office (wedding dates at least once a year, information through the registry office).

Plan your visit