Smedstorp
Encyclopedia
Smedstorp is a locality
situated in Tomelilla Municipality
, Skåne County
, Sweden
. Located 15 km west of the town of Simrishamn
, Smedstorp is a small village with 372 inhabitants in 2005.
On 1 January 2002 the current parish of Smedstorp was formed from the amalgamation of six small parishes Kverrestad, Smedstorp, Östra Ingelstad, Bollerup, Tosterup and Övraby. So, the parish of Smedstorp extends beyond the village itself to the surrounding farms and hamlets. Smedstorp is also a postal district covering and even larger area.
During the early 19th Century, more small houses were built. With the passing of the Farming Act in 1842, the fairly poor soil south of the main road started to be farmed. By 1930, all land south of the main road had become farm land.
In 1882, a privately owned railway service was in place and started a Simrishamn - Tomelilla service. The station of Smedstorp was built on a piece of land that had previously been grazing land for cattle. The only house in the vicinity was a small cottage where a soldier lived. The railway and station attracted more people to the village, which resulted in more houses being built. This meant that the village grew fast.
In 1896, the railway company merged with the Tomelilla - Malmö Railway, resulting in direct access to Malmö from Smedstorp. The same year saw the constitution of the municipality of Smedstorp, and Smedstorp itself was given the status of town, even though it was not technically a town. Smedstorp became the centre of the region.
At the turn of the century there were approximately ten stores in the town and around forty other businesses and craftsmen, including a distillery, a brewery and a dairy. The small original station building was torn down and replaced by an elegant new station in 1912. This station house is still standing today.
Smedstorp remained an independent municipality until the passing of the Municipalities Act in 1972.
. The manor and its grounds are rich in history. In the fourteenth century, the estate belonged to the Danish family of Bing. In the latter part of the sixteenth century, Anders Keldsen Bing built the manor house that stands today.
After Bing's death in 1589, the estate had a number of different owners. Eventually, it was bought by one of the greatest noblemen in Denmark
, Joakim Gjersdorff. After the peace treaty of Roskilde
between Denmark and Sweden in 1658, Gjersdorff sold all his estates to the King of Denmark.
In 1660, Smedstorp estate was one of 18 large estates in the southern part of Sweden that were given to Sweden by Denmark in exchange for the island of Bornholm
. The estate then became part of the personal property of the Swedish king. For a long time, it housed high-ranking Swedish Army
officers.
After a fire in 1930, only the main building of the manor remained. This two-storey house built of grey stone is now in private ownership and is not open to the public.
There is an impressive sculpture in the church, which was made to commemorate Anders Bing, the founder of Smedstorp manor. Made of blackstone
, sandstone
, marble
, and alabaster
, the sculpture is considered to be one of the strangest pieces of art of the Nordic Renaissance.
Local myth says that there is a secret tunnel connecting the church to the manor house.
, the south-east corner of Sweden. This area is bounded by Brösarp
to the north, Simrishamn
to the east, Tomelilla
to the west and Sandhammaren
to the south.
There is also a village shop which stocks a wide assortment of food and other products, as well as providing some postal services. Other amenities include three hairdressers, a bank, and an outdoor pool.
Företaget Smedstorpskök i Smedstorp tillverkar köksinredningar. The company Smedstorpskök in Smedstorp manufactures kitchen cabinets.
There is also a fire station with two fire engines. It is operated by a voluntary fire brigade. Each Monday at 4:10 pm the fire alarm sounds across the village and fields, as it is tested.
The village hall is run and administered by the Smedstorp Village Society. The hall itself is available for hire, and hosts a lot of activities, such as the traditional New Year's Eve party and the Thursday luncheon for the retired people from the village and round about.
, and from Ystad on to Malmö
and Copenhagen
, is easy. There are up to 12 daily train departures in each direction. The Simrishamn-Ystad stretch of railway was upgraded to take electric trains in 2003 and substantial improvements were made to the track during 2005-06.
A public bus service is also available. One can get to places like Lund
in about an hour.
, fled from Smedstorp to the United States of America
. He was facing a jail sentence due to financial troubles and marriage problems. He left Sweden with his 21-year-old mistress and their newly born son Karl-August
, abandoning his wife and their seven children.
Månsson changed his name to Lindbergh and his son Karl-August assumed the more American sounding name "Charles August". Charles August studied Law and was a member of Congress in the USA between 1907 and 1917.
His son, Charles A. Lindbergh
, born 4 February 4, 1902, made the first ever non-stop crossing of the Atlantic Ocean
in a single-seated aeroplane on May 20–21, 1927. This made him one of the greatest heroes in the history of aviation.
Urban areas in Sweden
Urban area is a common English translation of the Swedish term tätort. The official term in English, used by Statistics Sweden, is, however, locality. There are 1,940 localities in Sweden . They could be compared with census-designated places in the United States.A tätort in Sweden has a minimum of...
situated in Tomelilla Municipality
Tomelilla Municipality
Tomelilla Municipality is a municipality in Skåne County in southern Sweden. Its seat is located in the town Tomelilla.The municipality was formed through a series of amalgamations taking place in 1952, 1969 and 1971...
, Skåne County
Skåne County
Skåne County is the southernmost administrative county or län, of Sweden, basically corresponding to the historical province Scania. It borders the counties of Halland, Kronoberg and Blekinge. The seat of residence for the Skåne Governor is the town of Malmö...
, Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
. Located 15 km west of the town of Simrishamn
Simrishamn
Simrishamn is a locality and the seat of Simrishamn Municipality, Skåne County, Sweden with 6,546 inhabitants in 2005. Simrishamn is, despite its small population, for historical reasons normally still referred to as a city....
, Smedstorp is a small village with 372 inhabitants in 2005.
On 1 January 2002 the current parish of Smedstorp was formed from the amalgamation of six small parishes Kverrestad, Smedstorp, Östra Ingelstad, Bollerup, Tosterup and Övraby. So, the parish of Smedstorp extends beyond the village itself to the surrounding farms and hamlets. Smedstorp is also a postal district covering and even larger area.
History
In the 18th Century, only a handful of houses existed in the village of Smedstorp. They were inhabited mostly by craftsmen and farm workers, who owned no land of their own. At this time, the main road passed through the Smedstorp Manor estate.During the early 19th Century, more small houses were built. With the passing of the Farming Act in 1842, the fairly poor soil south of the main road started to be farmed. By 1930, all land south of the main road had become farm land.
In 1882, a privately owned railway service was in place and started a Simrishamn - Tomelilla service. The station of Smedstorp was built on a piece of land that had previously been grazing land for cattle. The only house in the vicinity was a small cottage where a soldier lived. The railway and station attracted more people to the village, which resulted in more houses being built. This meant that the village grew fast.
In 1896, the railway company merged with the Tomelilla - Malmö Railway, resulting in direct access to Malmö from Smedstorp. The same year saw the constitution of the municipality of Smedstorp, and Smedstorp itself was given the status of town, even though it was not technically a town. Smedstorp became the centre of the region.
At the turn of the century there were approximately ten stores in the town and around forty other businesses and craftsmen, including a distillery, a brewery and a dairy. The small original station building was torn down and replaced by an elegant new station in 1912. This station house is still standing today.
Smedstorp remained an independent municipality until the passing of the Municipalities Act in 1972.
The Site at Gårdlösåsen
Smedstorp' history is traceable to the third century A.D. A number of archaeological excavations have contributed to significant discoveries about the locality's early history. In 1949, investigations of nearby Gårdlösåsen uncovered a young girl's grave, containing jewellery along with her remains. The most famous is a silver item from the third century. Its inscription uses letters from the oldest written language found in this part of the world. From this find, the young girl gained her nickname, "The Silver Girl." Near her grave, the remains of 56 houses were also found, dating from between the fifth and tenth centuries.The Manor
One of the oldest large estates in the province of Skåne is Smedstorp ManorSmedstorp Castle
Smedstorp Castle is a castle in Tomelilla Municipality, Scania, in southern Sweden....
. The manor and its grounds are rich in history. In the fourteenth century, the estate belonged to the Danish family of Bing. In the latter part of the sixteenth century, Anders Keldsen Bing built the manor house that stands today.
After Bing's death in 1589, the estate had a number of different owners. Eventually, it was bought by one of the greatest noblemen in Denmark
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
, Joakim Gjersdorff. After the peace treaty of Roskilde
Treaty of Roskilde
The Treaty of Roskilde was concluded on 26 February or 8 March 1658 during the Second Northern War between Frederick III of Denmark–Norway and Charles X Gustav of Sweden in the Danish city of Roskilde...
between Denmark and Sweden in 1658, Gjersdorff sold all his estates to the King of Denmark.
In 1660, Smedstorp estate was one of 18 large estates in the southern part of Sweden that were given to Sweden by Denmark in exchange for the island of Bornholm
Bornholm
Bornholm is a Danish island in the Baltic Sea located to the east of the rest of Denmark, the south of Sweden, and the north of Poland. The main industries on the island include fishing, arts and crafts like glass making and pottery using locally worked clay, and dairy farming. Tourism is...
. The estate then became part of the personal property of the Swedish king. For a long time, it housed high-ranking Swedish Army
Swedish Army
The Swedish Army is one of the oldest standing armies in the world and a branch of the Swedish Armed Forces; it is in charge of land operations. General Sverker Göranson is the Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Army.- Organization :...
officers.
After a fire in 1930, only the main building of the manor remained. This two-storey house built of grey stone is now in private ownership and is not open to the public.
The Church
A church is situated close to Smedstorp Manor and it is likely that it was once a church belonging to the manorial estate. During the 1860s, the old mediaeval church was demolished and in 1867 a new one was built. The altar, however, dates back to the 1590s.There is an impressive sculpture in the church, which was made to commemorate Anders Bing, the founder of Smedstorp manor. Made of blackstone
Blackstone
-Businesses:*Blackstone Group, U.S. private equity and asset management firm*Blackstone Career Institute, online training institute*Blackstone & Co, a farm implement and engine manufacturer in Stamford, Lincolnshire until absorbed by Lister in 1937-People:...
, sandstone
Sandstone
Sandstone is a sedimentary rock composed mainly of sand-sized minerals or rock grains.Most sandstone is composed of quartz and/or feldspar because these are the most common minerals in the Earth's crust. Like sand, sandstone may be any colour, but the most common colours are tan, brown, yellow,...
, marble
Marble
Marble is a metamorphic rock composed of recrystallized carbonate minerals, most commonly calcite or dolomite.Geologists use the term "marble" to refer to metamorphosed limestone; however stonemasons use the term more broadly to encompass unmetamorphosed limestone.Marble is commonly used for...
, and alabaster
Alabaster
Alabaster is a name applied to varieties of two distinct minerals, when used as a material: gypsum and calcite . The former is the alabaster of the present day; generally, the latter is the alabaster of the ancients...
, the sculpture is considered to be one of the strangest pieces of art of the Nordic Renaissance.
Local myth says that there is a secret tunnel connecting the church to the manor house.
Location
Geographically, Smedstorp is situated right in the middle of the area called ÖsterlenÖsterlen
Österlen is the southeastern part of the Swedish province of Scania. The name derives from its location 'east of the route' ; 'Öster om len' . The principal town of Österlen is Simrishamn...
, the south-east corner of Sweden. This area is bounded by Brösarp
Brösarp
Brösarp is a locality situated in Tomelilla Municipality, Skåne County, Sweden with 700 inhabitants in 2005....
to the north, Simrishamn
Simrishamn
Simrishamn is a locality and the seat of Simrishamn Municipality, Skåne County, Sweden with 6,546 inhabitants in 2005. Simrishamn is, despite its small population, for historical reasons normally still referred to as a city....
to the east, Tomelilla
Tomelilla
Tomelilla is a locality and the seat of Tomelilla Municipality in Skåne County, Sweden with 6,204 inhabitants in 2005.- References :...
to the west and Sandhammaren
Sandhammaren
Sandhammaren is a Swedish lighthouse, and the name of a cape east of Ystad in Scania. At first two identical lighthouses were constructed, because it was a risk to mistake this lighthouse with the one on Ertholmene. The flame first ran on colza oil...
to the south.
Amenities
It has a school, which boasts a day-care centre and a pre-school group in addition to classes from grade 1 to grade 6. Buses bring pupils from nearby villages. The school also houses the public library and next door is the outdoor public swimming pool.There is also a village shop which stocks a wide assortment of food and other products, as well as providing some postal services. Other amenities include three hairdressers, a bank, and an outdoor pool.
Företaget Smedstorpskök i Smedstorp tillverkar köksinredningar. The company Smedstorpskök in Smedstorp manufactures kitchen cabinets.
There is also a fire station with two fire engines. It is operated by a voluntary fire brigade. Each Monday at 4:10 pm the fire alarm sounds across the village and fields, as it is tested.
The village hall is run and administered by the Smedstorp Village Society. The hall itself is available for hire, and hosts a lot of activities, such as the traditional New Year's Eve party and the Thursday luncheon for the retired people from the village and round about.
Festivals
Every year on the first Friday in July, traveling merchants come to Smedstorp for the annual Smedstorp Fair. Local societies and associations arrange bric-a-brac stalls and jumble sales, and a traditional countryside auction. A small amusement park also sets up on the site.Transportation
Smedstorp has a railway station, and commuting to Simrishamn and YstadYstad
Ystad is a "locality", or town, and the seat of Ystad Municipality, Skåne County, Sweden, with 17,286 inhabitants .Settlement dates back to the 11th century and the town has become a busy ferryport, local administrative centre and tourist attraction...
, and from Ystad on to Malmö
Malmö
Malmö , in the southernmost province of Scania, is the third most populous city in Sweden, after Stockholm and Gothenburg.Malmö is the seat of Malmö Municipality and the capital of Skåne County...
and Copenhagen
Copenhagen
Copenhagen is the capital and largest city of Denmark, with an urban population of 1,199,224 and a metropolitan population of 1,930,260 . With the completion of the transnational Øresund Bridge in 2000, Copenhagen has become the centre of the increasingly integrating Øresund Region...
, is easy. There are up to 12 daily train departures in each direction. The Simrishamn-Ystad stretch of railway was upgraded to take electric trains in 2003 and substantial improvements were made to the track during 2005-06.
A public bus service is also available. One can get to places like Lund
Lund
-Main sights:During the 12th and 13th centuries, when the town was the seat of the archbishop, many churches and monasteries were built. At its peak, Lund had 27 churches, but most of them were demolished as result of the Reformation in 1536. Several medieval buildings remain, including Lund...
in about an hour.
Charles Lindbergh
In 1859, member of the Swedish parliament, Ola MånssonAugust Lindbergh
August Lindbergh was a Swedish-American farmer and politician. He was the father of the U.S. politician Charles August Lindbergh, and the grandfather of aviator Charles Lindbergh....
, fled from Smedstorp to the United States of America
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. He was facing a jail sentence due to financial troubles and marriage problems. He left Sweden with his 21-year-old mistress and their newly born son Karl-August
Charles August Lindbergh
Charles August Lindbergh Sr. was a United States Congressman from Minnesota's 6th congressional district from 1907 to 1917...
, abandoning his wife and their seven children.
Månsson changed his name to Lindbergh and his son Karl-August assumed the more American sounding name "Charles August". Charles August studied Law and was a member of Congress in the USA between 1907 and 1917.
His son, Charles A. Lindbergh
Charles Lindbergh
Charles Augustus Lindbergh was an American aviator, author, inventor, explorer, and social activist.Lindbergh, a 25-year-old U.S...
, born 4 February 4, 1902, made the first ever non-stop crossing of the Atlantic Ocean
Atlantic Ocean
The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's oceanic divisions. With a total area of about , it covers approximately 20% of the Earth's surface and about 26% of its water surface area...
in a single-seated aeroplane on May 20–21, 1927. This made him one of the greatest heroes in the history of aviation.