The salon. Photo: Peter Kvarnström/Gunnebo Slott och Trädgårdar
Family time at Gunnebo House. Photo: Happy Visuals/Göteborg & Co
Photo: Jonas Ingman/Gunnebo Slott och Trädgårdar
Wedding at Gunnebo House. Photo: Gunnebo Slott och Trädgårdar
Unfortunately, John Hall died in 1802, around the same time that Gunnebo House was completed, so he didn’t have much opportunity to enjoy his summer residence. His son John Hall Jr inherited both John Hall & Co and Gunnebo House. He was an odd character who knew several languages but spoke very little. He never shaved or went to the barber, so his face was almost entirely covered with hair. His mind and heart were in the fine arts rather than in the harsh world of business. His income dwindled while his debts grew. In a desperate attempt to service his debts, he sold most of the furniture and fittings at Gunnebo House, but that did not stave off his creditors who eventually laid claim to the property itself. John Hall Jr challenged the forfeiture in court – a case which he eventually won, but the legal fees drained away whatever capital he had left. In 1807 his company was declared bankrupt, his wife divorced him in 1809 and he died a pauper in 1830, leaving no heirs.
During the 19th and 20th centuries, Gunnebo House changed hands several times. Some of the new owners modified the property, while others neglected it to varying degrees. The magnificent orangerie was pulled down. Eventually the house became derelict. In 1949 it was taken over by Mölndal Municipality. An ambitious restoration followed and continues to this day. Some of the original furniture which John Hall Jr had sold off was recovered, while other pieces were remanufactured. Gunnebo House has had many prominent visitors, including King Gustav III, King Gustav V, the Venezuelan revolutionary Francisco de Miranda, and US President George W Bush. Nowadays, Gunnebo House is a museum open to the public. There is a restaurant, bakery, gift shop, party rooms and conference facilities. Every summer, an open-air theatre is held in the gardens. Read more on www.gunneboslott.se.
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Swedish Press | November 2020 19