Gunpowder, paper, and woolen blankets. This is the story of \u00d8rholm M\u00f8lledam. It is a story of transformation and industry. u00d8rholm is located on the M\u00f8lle\u00e5en river in Lyngby-Taarb\u00e6k Municipality. It sits in the northern suburbs of Copenhagen.
\u00d8rholm’s history is deeply intertwined with its watermill. The \u00d8rholm watermill is mentioned in the Roskilde Bishop’s Census Book from the 1370s. At that time, the locality was known as \u00d8revad. The suffix -vad means ford. The name \u00d8rholm was first documented in 1670. It appeared as \u00d8erholmen. Initially, it was a grain mill. But in 1558, it was adapted for gunpowder production. The crown owned the mill. In the 1620s, it was modernized with inspiration from the Netherlands.
In 1653, \u00d8rholm was sold to Herman Isenberg. He had to supply the state with gunpowder. He could also sell to private customers. The gunpowder was stored at Copenhagen’s N\u00f8rreport city gate. It was used in the defense of the city during the Assault on Copenhagen. Over the next fifty years, the watermill changed owners several times. Albrecht Heins owned \u00d8rholm from 1670 to 1672. Peder Griffenfeld, a friend of Heins, often visited. In 1716, an explosion killed two workers. It also lost 300 kg of gunpowder.
In 1724, royal coppersmith Poul Badstuber acquired \u00d8rholm. He already owned operations at Brede and Nym\u00f8lle. Badstuber adapted \u00d8rholm for copper and iron production. But in 1742, he had to sell \u00d8rholm in an auction.
In 1793, Englishmen Henry Nelthropp and John Joseph Harris converted the factory into a paper mill. They produced print paper, wallpaper, and blue wrapping paper. The following year, they expanded by acquiring Nym\u00f8lle. By 1830, the company declined. This was due to competition from Strandm\u00f8llen. Strandm\u00f8llen was a larger paper manufacturer. In 1854, \u00d8rholm and Nym\u00f8lle were sold to the owners of Strandm\u00f8llen. It became part of a Danish paper monopoly. The operations at \u00d8rholm were modernized. Steam power and water turbines were introduced. Paper production ceased in 1922.
From 1930 to 1977, Lama was based at \u00d8rholm. Lama manufactured woolen blankets and spring mattresses. Later, the state purchased the buildings. Now, the National Museum uses it for storage.
\u00d8rholm House was built as a residence for the factory director. The architect and exact construction time are unknown. It is assumed it was built for Lauritz Stubs. He had applied for permission to transport bricks through J\u00e6gersborg Dyrehave in 1753.
In 1854, \u00d8rholm merged with Strandm\u00f8llen. The need for the house disappeared. It was rented out. Anton Frederik Tscherning, Denmark’s first Minister of Defence, was the first tenant. He lived there with his wife, Eleonora Tscherning. She was a painter and writer. From 1866, Christian Drewsen’s daughter Ophelia took over the house. She lived there with her husband, Godske Nielsen. He was a National Liberal editor. The house has changed hands many times. Paul Fenneberg, a former mayor of Lyngby Taarb\u00e6k, owned the house from 1933 to 1982.
\u00d8rholm Station is located on the N\u00e6rum Railway. It is served by the railway company Lokaltog. From grain to gunpowder to paper, \u00d8rholm has seen it all.