Åkers Bruksmuseum

About the museum

Åkers Bruksmuseum is located on the old ironworks site in Åkers styckebruk in Södermanland. The museum is housed in the works' grain warehouse from the 1790s, where ironworkers were partly paid in grain. Åkers hembygdsförening (local heritage society) was founded in 1986 to take over the building, and after extensive restoration work the museum opened in August 1988.

On part of the museum's 500 square metres, the story of Åkers Jern Bruk, founded in 1580, is told. The word stycke is an old term for cannon, and until the mid-1860s the works mainly produced cast iron cannons. Later, agricultural implements, iron stoves, window frames, gravestones and drainpipes dominated production. The exhibition also portrays the surrounding district, which supplied the works with labour and raw materials such as ore, charcoal and lime, and shows how transport worked: first by sledge in winter and, from 1919, on a narrow-gauge railway.

Since May 2023 there has been an exhibition on Åkers krutbruk, founded in 1552 on the orders of Gustav Vasa, produced with support from Sörmlands museum. The museum also displays tools and stone axes from the earliest people in the area. The local heritage society also looks after the Åkers bruksarkiv (works archive) in the old blast furnace building.

Highlights

• The story of Åkers Jern Bruk, founded in 1580, and the works' cast iron cannons
• Exhibition on the Åkers krutbruk gunpowder works, founded in 1552
• Pictures and objects about the transport of ore and charcoal to the works
• Tools and stone axes from the district's first inhabitants
• Free admission and guided tours for groups

Permanent exhibitions

• Åkers Jern Bruk – The story of one of Sweden's oldest companies, founded in 1580, with cannons, production and transport.
• Åkers krutbruk – Exhibition on the gunpowder works from the 1550s to the present day, produced with support from Sörmlands museum.
• Åker under 9 000 år – Tools and stone axes from the district's first inhabitants.

Founded

1988

Operated by

Åkers Hembygdsförening

Admission & discounts

Admission is free.

Free admission. Booked guided tours for groups cost SEK 50 per person, but at least SEK 250.

Accessibility

• Partially wheelchair accessible
• Elevator: not available
• Accessible restroom: not available
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome: no information
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

The museum has three floors. The entrance level is accessible by wheelchair, and the basement level can be reached by wheelchair via a separate entrance from outside, but there are some high thresholds there. The upper floor can only be reached by stairs. The toilet is outside the museum and is not adapted for people with reduced mobility.

Kids & families

In summer the museum has organised a workshop for children and adults in connection with paper-making.

Getting there & parking

From the sign by the blast furnace, walk about 150 metres on to the museum, on the left-hand side. Cars can be parked on the left. Information on public transport is not available.

Amenities & dining

Toilet outside the museum. Opposite the museum is a distillery in the riding hall from 1866.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit