The Brickworks in Asnæs Forskov

Asnæs Forskov lies on the peninsula south of Kalundborg Fjord and is known for its many ancient monuments and its beautiful broadleaf woodland. On the edge of the forest hides a lesser-known chapter of local history: the remains of the brickworks that the Lerchenborg estate established in 1786. The site is one of the points on Lundbye Landmarks, because the Golden Age painter J.Th. Lundbye painted this very brickworks.

Bricks for an age of reform

The brickworks was founded at a time of great change in the countryside. The agricultural reforms set off a wave of building, and the estate needed bricks and roof tiles. Clay was dug nearby, and the forest pond opposite the site was probably created by clay digging. Production stopped around 1870, and the buildings were demolished. A fire insurance assessment from 1862 is the only surviving written description of the works.

Lundbye's painting

In early July 1847 Lundbye stayed for a few days at the farm of Hedvigslyst on Asnæs. Here he painted two studies outdoors: one of the slopes by Sortestenen on the fjord and one of the brickworks. The picture is dated 1 July 1847 and now belongs to Moesgaard Museum near Aarhus. It is the only known picture of the brickworks, and it is unusual for Lundbye to make a building his main subject. In the painting you can see the kiln house with its red tiled roof, thatched wings for drying and fuel, and a horse-powered mill where the clay was kneaded. A firing took around three weeks, from filling the kiln until it had cooled and been emptied.

What you can see today

Although the brickworks has gone, there are clear traces. The landmark post stands by the stone wall that once enclosed the site, and many fragments of brick lie in the soil in front of the wall. Walk about 50 metres south along the path past Teglbrænderhuset and take a track to the right into the forest, and you will find a stone-lined well about two metres across. It is roughly 3.5 metres deep to the water and lies in the undergrowth among bushes and trees. The well is open, so keep a close eye on children and dogs. Teglbrænderhuset, a half-timbered house by the path, still stands but does not appear in Lundbye's painting.

Around Asnæs Forskov

The brickworks lies close to the forest's many other sights, including burial mounds and dolmens from prehistoric times. Combine your visit with a trip to Sortestenen on the fjord, where Lundbye painted his second study that summer, or drive on to Havnemarken at the far tip of Asnæs. Find more ancient monuments, nature areas and experiences on Asnæs and across the region at destinationsjaelland.dk.

Who is it for?

The site is for anyone who loves local history, art and small discoveries in nature. It makes a good goal for a woodland walk where you can look for brick fragments, find the well and compare the site with Lundbye's painting. Wear sturdy shoes, as the forest floor can be wet and uneven.