Länsikylä and its village history

Länsikylä’s village history comes to life through tangible traces: an old name, a year and a number of houses sit alongside a historic village site and the location of former houses. The old village plots are also protected as immovable archaeological sites.

Bólleby: a name from 1544

In 1544, Länsikylä was mentioned under the name Bólleby; at that time, the village had eight houses. This early reference links the place name and the size of the settlement in a dated record. Bólleby is the name form recorded for this reference; the number of houses describes the village at that time. The history of the place therefore begins with a specific link between a name, a year and a number. The year also makes the timeframe clear: the eight houses belong to the reference from 1544, while the description of the old village site offers a different perspective on the settlement.

The old village site

At the time of the survey, the old village site contained residential and farm buildings belonging to farmsteads; part of the area was undeveloped. The description thus brings together buildings for living and farming with an area without buildings. This offers a concrete picture of the site’s layout, not just the number of houses in the village. Compared with the information from 1544, the focus here is on a particular place and its developed and undeveloped areas.

The historic settlement location

Historically, the houses stood north of Klamilanlahti and the Suuri rantatie and extended along the eastern bank of the Pyölinjoki. This description of the location links a position in relation to two named landmarks with an area stretching along the river’s eastern bank. It provides a spatial context that differs from the specific village site: the historic houses are described as a settlement area, not just as a single place. The location along the riverbank and the other named landmarks thus add a spatial perspective to the history of the old village.

Protected village plots

Länsikylä’s old village plots are protected as immovable archaeological sites under the Finnish Antiquities Act (295/1963). The protection status therefore applies to the plots of the old village and adds a legal dimension to the information about names, houses and the village site. The term “immovable” refers to a site-bound monument. The land itself is therefore also part of the village’s history when considering its cultural heritage.

Village history as a guide when choosing a destination

If you also compare the character of destinations when searching for a holiday rental, village history can be one of your selection criteria. Länsikylä may be worth considering if you are interested in the historical development of a place: the old name Bólleby, the village site and the location of the former houses give the destination a cultural focus. When choosing a destination, consider whether you would like these historical connections to shape your stay.

Discover more destinations: Pyhtää, Kannusjärvi, Mäntlahti, Hamina, Kotka, Rekola, Jaala, Kouvola

Go to the regional travel overview: Kymenlaakso.