1600 – Wallon Smiths

The late 16th Century and early 17th Century saw the arrival of Walloons to Finspong. They brought with them advanced manu­facturing techniques that gave Swedish rock working a real lift. They also brought new architecture and culture and enriched Swedish society with new eating and drinking habits. A brewer even arrived in Finspong from the Netherlands so the Walloons could drink proper beer. Willem De Besche leased the works from the Crown in 1618.