Places with a story
Veveriet
Veveriet in Ålgård is a former weaving mill now used as a municipal meeting place and workplace. The large historic building makes Gjesdal's textile industry visible within the modern town centre.
The place1
The mill belongs to the industrial environment associated with the woollen factories of Ålgård. Gjesdal municipality links that industry with the town's transformation from a farming settlement into a much larger community, including company involvement in housing, education and other local services.
History and local connections1
Veveriet was built in 1898, extended northwards in 1912 and raised in 1937 so that its roofline became broadly continuous. The municipality describes three storeys plus an attic and basements. Apart from weaving, the building has also held retail sales of furniture and textiles, illustrating the changing uses of industrial space.
What to look for1
An old ship's mast survives as a supporting beam beneath the earliest part of the building. The municipality also describes an exhibition in the staircase and a history booklet produced with Ålgård Rotary. These details encourage visitors to see the building as a record of materials, production and reuse, rather than merely a large facade.
Planning a visit21
The municipality moved into Veveriet in 2019 with the aim of sharing space between staff, associations and residents. It remains a working public building, so consult municipal information for access, events and reception arrangements. A visit should take account of its current functions alongside its industrial heritage.
Sources
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