“A hidden gem” is what they call it. Engelska parken is one of Stockholm’s most secluded parks. It sits behind the Kungliga Tekniska högskolan’s largest lecture hall. This is F1, also known as Alfvénsalen. The park rests on a terrace above Lill-Jansskogen.
Engelska parken is accessible from the south. You can enter through a hole in the wall from Lindstedtsvägen. From the north, a terrace behind the building at Teknikringen 24 provides access. A staircase from the open space of Övre borggården leads here from the west.
But there is also an Engelska parken, which is a park located between Enspännargatan and Hässelbygårdsskolan.
Let’s delve into the story of this Engelska parken. Cervin owned Hesselby slott in the 1800s. He created a park in front of the castle. He named it Engelska parken. The name then transferred to the park near Hässelby gårds centrum.
This Engelska parken features chestnut trees. It has flower-ringed openings with benches. These benches face the sun. People sit here to observe and contemplate.
In 2012, several benches in Engelska parken underwent a transformation. It was part of an art project named Bänklyftet. Children from Astrakanen preschool decorated one bench. People with mild disabilities and developmental challenges created the mosaic bench. They worked at Praktikcentrum. They crafted this unrestrained bench using porcelain pieces and broken mirrors. These materials came from the secondhand shop, Containerråttan. This bench, also known as Fakirbänken, is more of an art piece. It is not very suitable for sitting.
Or consider the Engelska parken near the Edsviken residential area. This Engelska parken features a grave field with 114 Iron Age graves.
The grave field is among the largest in Sollentuna municipality. It contains graves from both the early and late Iron Age. Large burial mounds characterize the grave field. Several triangular and rectangular stone settings also exist here.
The Edsviken residential area neighbors the grave field. Construction began in the 1920s. It was one of several villa towns that grew near railway stations. As the villas were built, care was taken for the grave field. It became the first preserved grave field in Sweden. Today, it is a park amid urban development. The grave field in Engelska parken is a unique natural environment. Its large burial mounds blend with lush vegetation.
In Iron Age graves, skeletal remains are often found. Sometimes objects for the deceased’s journey to the land of the dead are also there. The graves were measured and drawn in the 1920s. However, only a few graves in Engelska parken have been examined. They were almost empty. Little is known about these graves. Several ancient remains are near Engelska parken. These include Kummelbyåsen with 22 graves and Kungshögen south of Sollentuna centrum. Kung Agnes hög is another name for it. Nearby lies Hersby gård. Today, it is a local heritage center with a history dating back to the Viking Age. The grave fields reveal the farm structure. They help us imagine the few people who lived off Sollentuna’s land over a thousand years ago.
The Engelska parken offers a serene escape. Whether you seek history, art, or nature, this park provides a unique experience. Take a moment to explore its hidden corners and discover its many stories.