Frogner Manor

Frogner Manor ("Frogner Hovedgård") is a former agricultural property located in an area that became part of "Kristiania", now Oslo, in 1878, today's borough of Frogner.

In 1790 the manor was bought by Bernt Anker, Norway's richest person at the time. He extended the main building to its present size. The Director General of the Modums Blaafarveværk, Jacob Benjamin Wegner, acquired the manor in 1836. In 1848 Fredrik Georg Gade, a wealthy merchant from Bergen, Norway, purchased the manor.

Major parts of the farmland belonging to the manor was built up through the end of the 19th century as the city expanded, but around one square kilometer remained when the city of Oslo bought the property in 1896 to secure space for further urban development and a new cemetery. The last private owner, Gerhard Gade (son of Fredrik Georg Gade), retained the right to inhabit the house until his death in 1909. This spared the house from demolition, and an economic recession prevented further building on the land.

In the meantime, the house was recognised as an important cultural monument. It was restored and placed at the disposal of the Oslo City Museum. The remaining grounds were designated as a public park, today's Frognerparken. The Vigeland Sculpture Park now occupies large portions of this park.

The 18th century main buildings are still intact, and are still the home of the Oslo City Museum.

Literature

* Magnussen, Kjeld: "Gaarden Store Frogner" (1967) Oslo Bymuseum