Children were sold at auction.

– When the industry came to Norway, children were sold at auction. Along the Akerselva I have made both shocking and nice discoveries, explains author Kari Saanum. The first book of its kind is written as a warning. Also.

Sagveien 8: On 20 square metres, both extended families and tenants lived. “The children in the factory town: Working life in Kristiania in 1890” is the name of the book which shows unknown sides of Oslo’s history. In the kitchen, the author elaborates:

– The house was built for workers in the first factory at Akerselva, in 1848. Thus, this is Norway’s first workers’ housing, according to the Workers’ Museum. Outside it is almost unchanged, inside there are 12 apartments. One of them has been returned. Today it belongs to the Oslo Museum and can be visited every weekend. Cupboard beds, mattresses and sliding beds provided accommodation options for both large families and any lodgers. During the day, the residents were almost never at home at the same time: In 1890, the workers had a 12-hour working day, six days a week. There was no holiday. Note the windows, daylight was a luxury. Like own stove.