Autumn colors at Simontorp

Simontorp in September

View from route 119.

It is early autumn when I head for Simontorp that I have earlier observed from route 119 when driving past it. This small village nowadays consists of 7-8 households and some free-time villas. In the past the village had their own smithy to produce scythes and a saw to produce planks. The smithy no longer  exist but a saw still works and the old site is now turned into a touristic attraction allowing us to make cultural strolls in the neighbourhood. For more information see www.simontorpkonsult.se 

Entrance to the old saw with a museum and remnants of old crofter's holdings.

The organizers inform that Simontorp got its name in the year 1200 and was owned by Erich Geet who belonged to the royal council of Skåne. Later the yard belonged to Bosjö Abbey for a longer time and in 1803 the ownership was transfered to the present family. 

Simontorp konsult provide maps and general information at the entrance (for a nominal fee) for visitors allowing them to make their own way. There are several cultural paths to choose from and colored signs indicate the right path to follow. Sites are indicated by numbers matching the information sheet that provide general information about the area and its attractions.

My first encounter is the old stone bridge. Earlier crossing the narrow stream was possible only by wading. When the Swedish-Danish war erupted in the 17th century a wooden oak bridge was constructed later to be replaced by the stone bridge (Simontorp Konsult). The road was called the "The Priest Road" because the same priest served in two communities on separate sides of the stream.

Stone bridge crossing Simontorp river.

The next encounter is with the museum in the red shed displaying old agricultural tools. All with detailed description of what any specific tool was used for. Below sledges to transport timber during the winter and a wooden harrow for smoothing out the fields. Immediately next to the museum is the water driven old saw that had its heydays in the 19th century. The price for running a log through the saw was 0,14 crowns.

The old saw and the agricultural museum.

In the immediate vicinity of the saw some remnants of former crofts can be detected. The stone fence below is what is visible of Nils Bordins croft. He was allowed to cultivate the grounds and keep three sheep and one pig. He was also a smith and therefore useful for the saw. Nils and his wife Kersti had two children and both parents reach more than 80 years of age. The other croft with a stone wall visible belonged to several crofter starting with Per Svensson in 1772. Diseases like tuberculosis and colic had its toll among the crofters.

Crofts of Nils Bordin and Per Svensson.

Simontorp is surrounded with woods and the nature provide for enjoyable strolls. This day was warm and the few rain showers refreshed the air bringing the scent from the green forest to ones nostrils. It is mushroom time so a few close ups of the "fruits of the season". 

The colorful autumn is here.

It was interesting the see this small village and learn to know some of its former inhabitants and their way of living. With some imagination you can remove the new main road from the scene and also remove the tarmac from the old road to get the old picture 150 years back in time. An idea would be to remove the soil around the crofts and the old charcoal stacks to make the picture complete.

Thank you for following us to Simontorp. For the information above courtesy is given to Simontorp Konsult AB. The autumn is here so harvesting time will next take us to markets and festivities in Vånga and Kivik famous for their fruits.

Enjoy your week-end

:-)