History plays a big part in all our lives, and John urges us to post some interesting history this week. Please visit his site for wonderful stories and photos!
Some years ago we visited Tjolöholm Castle, which is not very old, but contains a great mix of old and new. In many respects it is a fairytale castle, built 1898-1904 by James Fredrik and Blanche Dickson. In fact it was Blanche who finished it, as her husband died shortly after the plans were ready.
The Dickson family had moved from England and bought Tjolöholm to build a new home. The style is Arts and Crafts, and the whole interior is intact – rather fantastic. The furniture, tapestery and almost everything indoors was bought from Liberty in London – a company that still exists.
The young architect, Lars Israel Wahlman, combined the Tudor style with modernities from the turn of the century such as showers with circularly flowing water, electricity, central heating, and a vaccuum cleaner (so big and heavy that it had to be drawn by horses). The intention was to create a home that was both comfortable and dignified.
Dresses? One made for side saddle and some showing what to make them all stand out – I can imagine how cumbersome it must have been for women to ride – and walk…
Some of the most impressive ideas and rooms were the bathrooms with the special showers. All ordered from Liberty in London – the worksmen as well! I loved the flower room and the children’s room, where the vases and the toys still stood waiting.
The player piano or pianola to the left, is one of the last existing, working pianolas. The many boxes on top of it contains pieces of music for the instrument. The last picture shows the quite elegant vaccuum cleaner…
At the back of the castle waited a wonderful garden, English style of course. Well worth a visit. And it contained one of my favourites – this white thistle – like beauty.
There is a famous history of these flowers as well, Eryngeum giganteum, often called ”Miss Wilmott’s Ghost”. Ellen Ann Willmott (1858-1934) was a trailblazer in the male dominated world of horticulture, she challenged the gender roles and redefined what women could achieve in science and art. She won the Royal Hoticultutral Society’s Victoria Medal of Honour for her work.
The flower then? Well, they say Miss Wilmott used to carry seeds from this plant in her pocket, scattering them secretly in gardens she visited.
Thank you to Sofia for last week’s wonderful Lucky Shots – many smiles and wows! Lucky shots certianly play a big role in what we catch with our lens. Next week, it’s Beth’s turn to host. Be sure to follow her [here] so you don’t miss her challenge that goes live on Saturday at noon Eastern Time.
Leya 
That is quuite some castle! And you may remember, I love that Eryngeum, And it was my mother who told me the story of Miss Wilmot’s ghost
❤️And it was you who handed over the story to me!
Indeed so! 😀
I love the idea of scattering seeds as you go along. I tend to get seeds from where I go 🙂
It’s my kind of place, Ann-Christine, where time is standing still.
❤️
You chose a wonderful place to show. It has great light inside, and I loved the photos. But it must be hard to heat
Thank you, many castles cannot afford the heating, but that means they have to get help from the goverment.
Ann-Christine, thanks for sharing these images and history of this beautiful castle with us. I love the vacuum cleaner!
Well, thank you – I love the vc too, but I’m happy with the one I have got!
Your images and description really brought this place to life Ann-Christine. I really loved the last two images especially. And the story of dropping seeds wherever she went for the ”ghost” flowers is so wonderful! Terrific post.
Thank you Tina. I love that story of Miss Wilmott. She must have been something special!
I love Arts and Crafts and this looks like a wonderful example of the style, with such a pretty garden as a bonus! I’m not sure I fancy using horses to pull a vacuum cleaner however – I fear they might make more mess than they helped to remove!
Haha, I’m totally with you in everything!
This looks a particularly charming place, with a distinctive interior. Worth a detour, I’d say!
Yes, we are thinking of another visit next time we are going north!
I love seeing castles since we really don’t have them in the US. Beautiful!!
Thank you – I enjoy visiting them!
Wow the back of the castle and gardens are incredible! Beautiful collection!
Thank you, Pam!
Have seen photos of this home before when an American Swedish friend also from your area visited it – much fun revisiting, smiling when looking at the vacuum-cleaner ?? ! ________________________________
Haha, yes – hilarious, heavy and…yes, horses?
A beautiful collection you have here. Great photos!
Thank you! A lovely visit!