Freudenthaler Sensenhammer

The Freudenthaler Sensenhammer in Leverkusen’s Schlebusch district is a historic scythe factory set beside the Dhünn river. Its origins go back to 1778, when Derick van Hees built the first hammer mill after receiving permission from the territorial lord. At first the site produced steel billets for various uses, not scythes. In 1815 Caspar Lange enlarged the hammer building, and in 1837 the Kuhlmann family began making sickles and scythes here. A boiler house and tall chimney were added in 1890 to power a steam engine, and by 1906 the works had a supply contract with the Bergisches Elektrizitäts-Werk. By 1914 the factory was turning out more than 200,000 scythes and straw knives each year before closing in 1987. The museum opened in spring 2005 and keeps the original workshops largely intact. Visitors follow the scythe-making process step by step at the preserved workstations. Regular forging demonstrations bring the old rhythms of the smithy back to life. The site also hosts exhibitions, plays and concerts, including the annual Leverkusener Jazztage. Private celebrations such as weddings may be held in the grounds. Since July 2019 the museum has been led by the conservator Jürgen Bandsom, who took over from Wilhelm Matthies. A walk through the museum grounds reveals the hammer building, the boiler house with its tall chimney, and the adjoining factory yard beside the river. The scythe forge still stands ready for the next demonstration. Visitors can study the machinery in its original setting and watch blades being shaped on the anvil. The riverside setting adds a calm backdrop to the industrial scene.