Högbo bruk

About the museum

Högbo bruk began with a hammer forge that ironworks men (bergsmän) built in 1634 by the Högboån river. The works became a centre of iron production in the 17th century, and in 1666 a second hammer forge was built, Övre Hammaren, which is the works' oldest surviving building. In the 18th century the works passed through several owners, among them the Bröms sisters, and Colonel (översten) Hans Hierta had the first manor house built, completed in 1739.

The works is best known as the place where Consul Göran Fredrik Göransson was the first in the world, in 1858, to mass-produce steel using the Bessemer process. The steel was forged out in Högbo's hammers, and in 1862 Sandvikens järnverk (Sandviken Ironworks) was founded, which developed into today's Sandvik and Alleima. The estate then took on new uses as farmland and a summer leisure property, and the town of Sandviken bought the area in 1945.

Today Högbo bruk is a park and outdoor area with living cultural heritage. Gamla Herrgården became a museum in 1958 and is shown on guided tours and open days. Since the 1950s Högbo bruk has managed a cultural-historical collection of objects from manor life, farming, ironworks and workers' everyday life. On the site there are, among other things, a carriage museum, an office museum in the manor house, a Bessemer converter as a memorial, the sculpture park Nordisk stenskulptur (Nordic Stone Sculpture) and craftspeople and a glassworks in Övre Hammaren.

Highlights

• Gamla Herrgården from 1739, museum since 1958
• Office museum with the works bookkeeper's office around 1900
• Carriage museum with carriages and sleighs
• Övre Hammaren with a 19th-century bar-iron hammer
• Bessemer converter and sculpture park

Permanent exhibitions

• Gamla Herrgården och Kontorsmuseet – The manor house from 1739 with interiors from earlier times, where the works owners lived, and an office museum with equipment and furniture from around the turn of the century 1900.
• Vagnsmuseet – Carriages, sleighs and other vehicles from the history of the works.
• Övre Hammaren och stångjärnshammaren – The works' oldest building, with a 19th-century bar-iron hammer; today a glassworks.

Operated by

Högbo Bruks AB

Admission & discounts

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Accessibility

• Partially wheelchair accessible
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom: no information
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome: no information
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

Gamla Herrgården can only be reached by wheelchair via a ramp that is brought out when needed; please mention this when booking. The works walk is a little over 1 km on level ground over gravel and asphalt. Guided tours are smoke-free and fragrance-free.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Playground / play area

Barnens Högbo (Children's Högbo) has a playground, a sledging hill and a small-animal park; there are also horse and carriage rides, an adventure course and mini golf.

Getting there & parking

Högbo bruk lies about 5 km north of Sandviken along road 272. The whole works is a park and leisure area, with mainly walking paths and exercise trails.

Amenities & dining

• Café
• Restaurant
• Museum shop

Café Gruvstugan, Högbo Qvarn and the restaurant of Högbo Brukshotell are on the site, as well as the Gårdshandeln (farm shop) and shops selling arts and crafts.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit