Kvinnorna & trädgården på Södertuna slott: en fallstudie om Södertunas trädgårdshistoria mellan 1805–1839 och 1891–1960

Abstract

This essay is a case study that examines the garden history of Södertuna Castle trough the perspective of women’s-history. It does so by examining the two time periods 1805-1839 and 1891-1960 when the two women, first Christina Wachtmeister born Hall and later, Ebba von Eckerman born von Hallwyl, lived at Södertuna. It also aims to examine the working women in the garden during these time periods. It strives to fill a knowledge gap about the garden history at Södertuna as well as lifting the effect these women had in the development of the garden. The essay is based on archive studies of multiple different materials, a visit to Södertuna, an interview and studies of photographs, maps, and other images. It also uses old and modern literature about garden-crafts, -arts and -history as well as geographical descriptions, and descriptions about the life of Christina Wachtmeister and Ebba von Eckermann. It comes out off an earlier study in the programme which only focused on the history of the English landscape garden at Södertuna. The material shows very little information about Christina Wachtmeister’s time at Södertuna and her effect on the garden, even though the garden seems to have been significant. There is more information in the material about the later period when Ebba von Eckermann lived at Södertuna. She seems to have had a great interest in the garden and writes about it in several letters to her mother Wilhelmina. Several changes in the garden occurs during her time at Södertuna and the changes seem to follow the ideals of the time. Unfortunately, no evidence of working women was found in the sources examined. This does not necessarily mean they did not exist at Södertuna. On the contrary it is reasonable to believe that they are rather just not shown in the materials. It is probable that wives and children of gardeners also did work in the garden at busy times, as well as temporarily employed “trädgårdskullor” and daily employed workers.