The Papermill

Tycho had his first books printed in Copenhagen. These include his book about the new star, De Nova Stella, printed in 1573. Examples of the book can be found at e.g. Rundetårn in Copenhagen and at the University Library in Lund. Whilst Tycho could have his books printed in Copenhagen even after he had moved to Hven, he needed to be at the printer’s all the time. He wanted to supervise the work sheet by sheet. It was also a question of security. He was constantly afraid that someone else would gain access to his findings and publish them in his/her own name. Therefore, in 1584, he began to build his own printing facility at Uraniborg, where he could print his own books and at the same time could devote himself to his observations.

Tycho solved the difficulty of finding paper for the printing process by having his own manufacturing system, and for this purpose he built a paper mill. "The much-discussed mill is already finished. A high and wide earth bank keeps the water supply sufficient – in summer as well as in winter. The wheel, which is approximately 7 meters in diameter, is powered by the least possible amount of water, and besides paper manufacturing, is the source of power for two industries. A number of fish ponds are also laid out, so that these may also supply water for the mill when it is needed. And only a few years ago, this was all just dry land." (From a letter written by Tycho Brahe in 1589)

On the Blaeus Atlas map from 1663, it is possible to see the ponds Tycho laid out successively in a terraced pattern. They were designed to collect rain water. Water was led down into the large mill pond in the south-western part of the island. It is still possible to see the dam banks clearly.

The paper mill was built between 1589-92 and lay below the dam bank. It was also used for grinding grain and preparing leather. The building also housed a linen press, a laundry room and a storage room for paper. Tycho Brahe had the rights to all linen waste from Ven for his paper factory. Even today, the islanders claim that he chased the maids to get their linen nightclothes.

The drawing is by N A Møller Nicolaisen. It is an attempt to reconstruct the paper mill after his excavations there in 1933-34