Picture this a grand mansion standing tall amidst a bustling neighborhood. This is Herrgården in Malmö a place steeped in history and brimming with stories.
Herrgården’s history begins in 1817. A customs official Svedin Karström built this magnificent mansion on his vast estate. He moved in with his family in 1819. Sadly his first wife died young. He deeply mourned her. He even named another estate after her Ulricedahl. After his death in 1834 he was buried in V Skrävlinge cemetery. His tombstone reads “honest spotless and active he matured for heaven while benefiting society with useful efforts”.
The Kockums family acquired the estate in 1848. Peter Kockum a successful farmer transformed the estate into a model farm. With his wife Hilda and their many children they further developed the farm. In 1870 they added a floor to the mansion. The Kockums family owned Herrgården for 111 years a testament to their enduring legacy. After Peter and Hilda’s death their two daughters Hilda Jr and Ida inherited the estate. They continued the farm’s traditions. Hilda Jr even managed the estate’s finances from the age of 18.
Rosengård was largely self-sufficient. They cultivated sugar beets grains and vegetables. They also raised cows pigs sheep chickens and bees. For a time the Kockum sisters were Sweden’s only female distillers. Their distillery started in 1839 selling to wholesalers and their network of family and friends.
When Hilda Kockum Jr passed away in 1959 the land was leased. It was later sold to BGB Malmö building contractors before becoming city property. Today Herrgården stands tall. Since 1990 it’s housed Drömmarnas Hus a cultural association for children and youth.
Herrgården is a captivating blend of past and present. It’s a reminder of a bygone era of grand estates and self-sufficient farming. Yet it also reflects the vibrant multicultural community that thrives here today. The mansion stands as a silent witness to the changing face of Malmö a testament to its enduring spirit. It stands as a symbol of Herrgården’s enduring story a story woven into the very fabric of this Malmö neighborhood.