Elingård: A Historic Manor Estate in Norway
Site at a Glance
- Popularity
- Medium
- Country
- Norway
- Primary era
- Early Modern
- Eras represented
- Early Modern
- Civilizations
- Denmark–Norway
- Site type
- Domestic
- Remains
- Manor House
On this page9 sections
History
Elingård is a historic estate on the Onsøy peninsula outside Fredrikstad in Østfold county, Norway. Its present Renaissance-style main building was completed early in 1749.
Early owners
Members of the Rosensverd and Gyldenhorn families owned the estate in the fifteenth century. The Brockenhuus family held it in the sixteenth century.
The Bjelke family
In 1610, Jens Bjelke, a prominent Norwegian nobleman and statesman who served as Chancellor of Norway, acquired Elingård through his marriage to Sophie Brockenhuus. The marriage made him one of Norway’s wealthiest nobles. The estate later passed to their son, Henrik Bjelke, an admiral and naval officer.
Fires and rebuilding
Elingård burned down in 1645. In the eighteenth century, the estate passed through marriage to the Huitfeldt family. Its main building was destroyed by fire in 1746, and the present building was completed early in 1749.
Later ownership and museum use
The estate was sold to Hans Møller in 1778 and subsequently changed hands. Libertas was among its later owners and used the manor as a conference center. Fredrikstad Museum now owns and operates Elingård as a museum. Since 1 January 2006, the estate has been part of Østfold Museum, which organizes the county’s museums.
Remains
Main building and grounds
Main building
The Renaissance-style main building has two floors and is arranged around a main wing with two side wings.
Garden
The estate grounds include a garden laid out in the English manner.
