Peat has been used for centuries to improve soil qualities and improve sanitary conditions both in farms and residential settings. During WWII when coal and oil was at severe shortage, peat moss was used as a substitution fuel here in Sweden. Small and medium sized operations started all over the country and it is interesting to see regional differences in how the plants were structured and built.

Presumably, peat processing was a good side income for farmers and forest owners and some plants grew organically over the years. The demand for peat as fuel slowly diminished after the war until the supply of coal and oil was steady, which occurred as late as around 1950. However, as the economy boomed during the 1950s, usage for private gardens soared, which kept the business up for several years.

During the 1960s, peat processing became and industrialized business and competition from larger and more modern units made life hard for the pre-WWII plants. It seems like they died one by one from around 1965 and onwards. Some continued for still some years on a small-scale operation for local use, but most were demolished where others were simply left to deteriorate.

This particular plant is a spectacular remain from that era and although no operation seems to have taken place here the last thirty+ years or so it is surprisingly intact.
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