Løveid canal
Løveid locks
The Løveid Canal and locks were built between 1854 and 1861. There are three locks, with a total lift of 10.3 metres. Deep holes were chiselled into the rock before it was mined with gunpowder.
Chisels and mallets were used to make holes at the base of the construction for a distance of several kilometres before the rock was blasted with gunpowder.
The first bridge over the canal was a swing-bridge built by Union Co. in 1898. The present bridge was built in 1956.
The Løveid locks gained fame during a works dispute that took place there in 1931. A conflict developed at Menstad between the State Police with military units and demonstrators. This became known as the "Battle of Menstad". The dispute came to blows again at Skotfoss a few days later, on June 9, 1931. The canal bridge was raised at Løveid to prevent the demonstrators from reaching Skotfoss Mill. Their attempts to scale the locks were thwarted by baton-wielding policemen. The leaders of the protest lost controll over the demonstrators, who began throwing stones and injured several police constables. Two demonstrators were sentenced to short prison terms.
At the uppermost lock, there is a bust of County Sheriff Hans Jørgen Christian Aall, the driving force behind the plans for the Norsjø-Skien Canal. The bust was made by Jo Visdal and unveiled in 1897.
At the end of the locks stands the lockkeeper's Swiss-style house, built around 1860. The locks are surrounded by a beautiful park. The locks were modernized in the 1980's. Original stonework was covered with cement and the old wooden lock gates were replaced by gates of steel.