Huseby bruk

Miss Florence Stephens´ legacy

Huseby Bruk lies 20 km south-west of Växjö off route 23 in Alvesta Municipality. The estate, which covers an area of 2,123 hectares, was gifted to the Swedish state by Miss Florence Stephens, who died in 1979. A tenant farmer now takes care of the agricultural land, while Husebymaden nature reserve was set up in 1998.

From ironworking to farming

Huseby has a long tradition as an ironworks, since Lord High Admiral Karl Karlsson Gyllenhielm created one here after being granted Huseby in the 1620s. Pig iron was smelted up until 1930, while the foundry was operational as recently as the 1950s. During foundry owner Joseph Stephens' time at Huseby (1867-1934), agriculture was developed alongside the iron and forestry industries.

The current manor house was built in the 1840s by Counts Hugo and Malcolm Hamilton. The interiors strongly reflect the Stephens family's interest in research and collecting, and a great deal has been preserved in the same state as when Florence Stephens left the house.

Reflects life at the turn of the last century

When Florence Stephens left Huseby Bruk, along with it is forests and farmland, to the Swedish state, she wanted it to be used as a model for Swedish forestry and agriculture. She also wanted the old buildings to be kept up to reflect life and the environment as it was at its peak during her father Joseph Stephens' time at the turn of the last century.

Since the National Property Board took over management of Huseby Bruk in 1994, many of the buildings have been renovated and large parts of the estate relating to the old ironworks have been repaired. In 1999, the National Property Board set up a long-term project, together with interest group Huseby intresseförening, to recreate the environment and atmosphere of the turn of the last century as far as possible. The aim is for the park and gardens to be reinstated as they were in Joseph Stephens' time. The manor house is open to the public in the summer and to pre-booked groups during the rest of the year.