Listen closely. Did you know that Maglekilden is Roskilde’s most powerful natural spring?
Maglekilden sits just west of the Roskilde Cathedral. It has a fascinating story. This spring has been vital to Roskilde for centuries.
In the past, Maglekilden gushed over 90000 liters of water every hour. Today, it still provides a substantial 15000 liters hourly.
Let’s delve into Maglekilden’s history. Back in the Middle Ages, locals quarried travertine from here. They used this stone to build many churches in the Roskilde area during the 11th and 12th centuries. This quarrying created a small lake that became a mill pond.
The watermill was called Maglekilde Mølle. This mill powered six watermills downstream toward Roskilde Fjord. These included Vandhulsmølle, Sankt Mortens Mølle, Kapelsmøllen, Sankt Clara Mølle and Strandmøllen. Maglekilde Mølle first appeared in records in 1258.
However disaster struck on April 8 1731. Maglekilde Mølle was the first building destroyed in a series of fires that devastated Roskilde. A new mill replaced it in 1737. Later in 1761 a textile mill joined the site.
Maglekilden’s water supported various industries. There was Maglekilde Vandmølle and Maglekilde Klæde- og Papirfabrik. Also, there was Maglekilde Maskinfabrik. Not to forget the Maglekilde Vandkuranstalt.
In 1846, a group of Roskilde citizens acquired the disused industrial complex. They demolished the buildings and created a spa and mineral water factory. Architect Hans Conrad Stilling designed the complex. Water flowed through a closed ditch to a grotto on Maglekildevej. There, it emerged from a Neptune figure’s mouth.
In 1927, they built a small wellhouse over Maglekilden. This structure gained protection status in 1979. The spa struggled attracting few visitors. It closed after only two years in 1851. Constant Dirckink-Holmfeld then acquired the complex. He was a civil servant critical of the March Revolution. He lived there while others rented parts of the property.
Later, in 1865, Maglekilde Machine Factory opened at the site.
Today, the wellhouse is a small timber structure. It features a red tile roof. You will find it on a parking lot.
Consider Maglekilden’s enduring legacy. From powering mills to serving as a spa. This spring has been a constant presence in Roskilde’s story. Its water continues to flow. It reminds us of the city’s rich history.