Huseby Bruk
When you visit Huseby Bruk you encounter Swedish history. Here, the blast furnace has been left as it was the day the last iron worker went home. Here, the water wheel still is spinning, and the smith’s tools lie ready by the forge.
In the Castle at Huseby Bruk, the dinner table is set in full glory with beautiful linen napkins and arranged flowers. Knowledgeable guides tell you about times past, and once the tour is over, you can go for a walk through the garden or sit down for a refreshment in Elisabeth’s Garden Restaurant & Café.
Huseby Bruk was created some 400 years ago. Here, Swedish Admiral Gyllenhielm let construct an ironworks in order to produce pig-iron, cannons and, with time, also farm equipment and kitchen equipment. The raw material was bog-iron ore that was collected from the lakes Salen and Åsnen close to Huseby. Through the centuries, Huseby flourished and became a concept in the southern Swedish iron industry. Up until 1930, pig-iron still was created in the blast furnace, and foundry was in operation up until the 1950s.
Here, time has stood still for some 100 years. Visitors can enter and experience the era where Joseph Stephens was patron of the ironworks. The last private owner, Florence Stephens, bequeathed Huseby Bruk to the Swedish state at her death in 1979. Today, thanks to Florence, you are able to visit and enjoy a truly historical ironworks and museum. The Stephens family was also a collector of art, utility items and curiosities from all over the world. The collections are preserved in the castle and you are welcome to have a look at all the objects at display.
Changing exhibitions
In addition to the permanent exhibitions in the Castle and the ironwork’s museum, Huseby annually has several temporary exhibitions. This season’s new exhibition in the ironworks, ”A box in the attic”, is about Joseph Stephen’s time in India.
A gorgeous garden
Like most large estates, Huseby also has an extensive garden with ornamental plants, fruits and vegetables both in open land and in greenhouses. The Stephens family were keen on protecting historical species and breeds at their estate, and therefore the gardener still is an important person in Huseby’s maintenance. Here, you walk under beautiful rose arches, between squiggly flower beds in German style. Also, go for a walk across the bridge to the Rhododendron islet and let yourself be mesmerized by the giant, flowering bushes.
Handicraft, fairs & events
For those interested in arts and handicraft, there are several local craftsmen represented in the shops along the main street of Huseby, for example the Kronobergsslöjdarna that are housed in the building ”Grevehuset”.
Every year, fairs and exhibitions with different themes are held, including the largest Christmas fair in the Nordic countries, Smålandsjul på Huseby. About 170 of the country’s best craftsmen and small-scale food manufacturers exhibit their products across the ironworks estate. At dusk, 1000 outdoor lights are lit and the roads are lined with sparkling fir trees, adorned with thousands of small lamps.
