Köysikuja (rope lane)

Kittholma forest

 

At the beginning of the 1800s, a direct route was built in the Kittholma forest for rope making. Rope lanes had naturally existed in different parts of the town previously as well. Sailing ships needed a large amount of ropes, which were manufactured from hemp, for example. Only men worked as rope makers. Some sort of a grinding machine was also needed in rope making. Ropes were tarred at the Pikiruukki pitch factory, where they were immersed in a tar boiler and lifted up to dry. Köysikuja (Repslagarbanan) in Kittholma is a central part of the old harbour’s maritime history and early industry.

  


Stories

 

“For thousands of years, rope-making skills have been part of men’s skilled labour. Men living in the country braided ropes from various materials. Along with increased shipbuilding, the demand for rope also grew and rope making became a profession of its own in Europe in the 1400s. Rope making was part of every seaman’s basic skills. For example, the rigging of a sailing ship comprised kilometres of rope. The rope is in a way the key to the entire world of sailing ships and seamanship: rope was needed in almost all ship functions. (…) Ropes have been manufactured for sailing ships from hemp, linen, abaca, sisal, jute, coconut, and cotton strings.” (https://sites.google.com/site/perinnerakentaminen/koeydenpunonta)

 


Photos

 

Köysikuja, ‘rope lane’ in summer 2018

 

Köysikuja, ‘rope lane’ (Repslagarbanan) in autumn 2018

 

Köysikuja (Repslagarbanan) a long time ago (Pietarsaaren kaupunginmuseo)

 

Köysikuja (Repslagarbanan) on the map of 1886 (Pietarsaaren kaupunginmuseo)

 


Video

 

See the video on rope making!

(https://sites.google.com/site/perinnerakentaminen/koeydenpunonta)

 


Map