The pioneer of large-scale manufacturing in the Finnish city of Tampere was the Scot James Finlayson (1771-1852) who, after a spell working in St Petersburg, established an engineering shop in the early 1820s using the water-power provided by the Tammerkoski river. He diversified into cotton manufacturing in 1828, and while he returned to Scotland ten years later, the company he established became one of the largest in Finland employing more than 3,000 people in the late 19th century. Production on the original site, in a part of the city named after Finlayson, ceased in 1995. The many buildings have been adapted for a variety of purposes, but the former dyeshop of the cotton mill houses Työväenmuseo Werstas - the Finnish Labour Museum.
The Museum tells the over two-hundred-year-old story of Tampere’s industry. The exhibition describes how Tampere became the largest industrial city in the country, “the Manchester of Finland”. Impressive museum artefacts and photographs introduce visitors to the industrial enterprises and factory workers of Tampere. A large 1650 hp Sulzer steam engine with an 8 m flywheel is preserved in the museum.
Finnish Labour Museum Werstas
Työväenmuseo Werstas
Väinö Linnan aukio 8
33210 Tampere
Finland
+358 (0) 10 - 4209220
Homepage
Admission: | Charge |
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Access for persons with disabilities: | For details see website |
Gift and book shop on site: | yes |
Tuesday - Sunday 11am-6pm