forby.html

Förby is the central of Särkisalo, a small county with population less than 1000 citizens at the south coast of Finland. The chalkstone mine was initially opened in 1881. It still functions today and involves the adjacent calcium carbonate factory of Omya inc. Name of the mining company is legacy of it's developer Karl Forsström, father of Petter Forsström the limestone industry main man.

What makes the place interesting is the old mine tower and other mining equipment at the border of the area. There are also huge old open pits in the nearby, but the mining activity today is performed underground.

	Road to the mine goes past the old tower, which is behind the fences. Trucks transporting the refined products somewhere in the world drive the road continuously.
	You may notice there are no stairs anywhere. Going behind the fence wouldn't be a big deal, but climbing the tower is simply not possible without specific equipment.
	The top landing's roof gives a shelter for birds which have resided the tower.
	Nostalgic mining equipment.
	The ore loader brings in mind memories of C64 games like Jet Set Willies, they had hazardous objects like this.
	A hydraulic-mechanical wonder of it's time.
	Cable elevator's drum is huge.
	The rod mill item's info plate.
	I guess this is a pump for keeping the shafts somewhat dry.
	There is the operating mine area. Apart from the access denied -signs, the place wasn't very well secured. And why should it be anyway, it's just rock they dig out from the land.
	New mine tower substitute and some raw chalkstone.
	A bit away from the active area lies an old transformer station. Not active at any level as you see.

Road to the mine goes past the old tower, which is behind the fences. Trucks transporting the refined products somewhere in the world drive the road continuously.

You may notice there are no stairs anywhere. Going behind the fence wouldn't be a big deal, but climbing the tower is simply not possible without specific equipment.

The top landing's roof gives a shelter for birds which have resided the tower.

Nostalgic mining equipment.

The ore loader brings in mind memories of C64 games like Jet Set Willies, they had hazardous objects like this.

A hydraulic-mechanical wonder of it's time.

Cable elevator's drum is huge.

The rod mill item's info plate.

I guess this is a pump for keeping the shafts somewhat dry.

There is the operating mine area. Apart from the access denied -signs, the place wasn't very well secured. And why should it be anyway, it's just rock they dig out from the land.

New mine tower substitute and some raw chalkstone.

A bit away from the active area lies an old transformer station. Not active at any level as you see.

REFERENCES:

Rakennettu kulttuuriympäristö, Museovirasto/Ympäristöministeriö, Museoviraston rakennushistorian osasto, 1993

SITES WITH NOTEWORTHY CONTENT CONCERNING FÖRBY:

The Silent The Complete