This house at the entrance to Långbro park was built for the chief physician of the new mental hospital (see the story of the hospital at
https://reveal.world/story/1393 ).
The construction of the manor began in 1905. The doctor's residence was a symbol of his position. The 476 square meters house was designed by Gustaf Wickman in Art Nouveau style. There were 10 rooms: dining room, lounge, master bedroom, kitchen, dining room, maid's room, sleeping and guest room.The interior was lavish.
Photo: Ernest Florman 1923. SLL.
In 1909 the first chief physician, Olov Kinberg, moved in with his family. Two years later, an English style park with winding walkways and an artificial pond was constructed. In the middle of the pond there was an island which could be reached by two arching bridges. On the island, a swan house was built for the two wing-clipped swans.
In 1927 chief physician Kinberg was fired for taking food for his pig from the hospital’s kitchen without paying.
During World War II years, chief physician Sten Stenberg who lived in the house at the time opened his doors to fugitives from different countries.
The last chief physician resident in the manor was associate professor Erik Goldkuhl. When he moved out in 1959, the house was rebuilt. The bottom floor was rearranged to make room for a café, a barber and a socio-therapist. The basement was refurbished to serve as a carpentry and a metal workshop, while the top floor housed a textile workshop.
In 1994 the manor was rebuilt and refurbished again, this time as an inn.
In 1998 the entire park was bought by JM, one of the Nordic region’s leading developers of housing. The older hospital buildings were converted, and new houses were built.
The inn was closed down in 2004. Chef and restaurateur Fredrik Eriksson and his partners bought the manor from JM and gave it a complete overhaul. On October 15th 2005 Långbro Värdshus was opened.
Today, you can still experience the old atmosphere and sit by the same marble fireplace that warmed the physician and his family. You can eat lunch and dinner in one of the building’s many beautiful rooms, both downstairs and upstairs.
