From ironworks to conference center: the history of Gimo herrgård

Gimo herrgård is a manor in Gimo, Östhammars kommun. The main building is a white-painted, two-story stone structure joined with two lower wings. While the manor's main building was constructed in the 1760s, the history of the Gimo ironworks dates back to 1615. The area was mentioned in the 14th century as a village, and in 1615, Hans Sifversson established huts at the crown's expense.

In 1627, the works were leased to Louis De Geer, who purchased them in 1643 after being ennobled. De Geer established a larger ironworks. The De Geer family held ownership until 1756, when the works were sold to John Jennings and Robert Finlay. Finlay later became the sole owner and commissioned the architect Jean Eric Rehn to create a general plan for the works and provide designs for a new manor.

In 1764, Finlay sold the ironworks to Johan Henrik Lefebure, who followed Rehn's designs to construct the manor. The manor was completed in 1767, the same year Lefebure died, and the works were inherited by his son, Jean Lefebure-Lillienberg. The property served various purposes over the centuries, including a political course center in the 20th century, before being sold to the Schneider family in 1995.

Today, Gimo herrgård serves as a course and conference center. It features 88 rooms and suites, with conference facilities capable of accommodating up to 150 people. The manor employs between 30 and 40 people.

Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons