Göta Canal: Ljung Bridges

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Ljung Manor has a long history. During the time period in which the canal was built, Ljung Manor was owned by the famous Axel von Fersen. After his unfortunate death in Stockholm, on 6 June 1810, Axel's brother, Fabian, took over the manor. Since the planned stretch of canal was to requisition a large acreage of Ljung Manor, negotiations with Baltzar von Platen regarding recompense of land, bridge connections etc. were rendered long and difficult. The questions of bridge connections to the manor and the mills along the river Motala Ström were especially sensitive. As shown on the maps (below), the canal project came to affect three approach roads - one to Ljung Manor and two to Ljung Church. Two of these were eventually given bridge connections.
(Further reading: Canal Research at Linköping University - Gunhild Wingårdh, Land losses and Recompensations. In Sw.: Markförluster och markersättningar, Linköping 1993.

Von Röök's map of Ljung Manor, 1774. Besides the manor and its barn, Ljung Church is also marked on the map (VaLa).

Click on the maps to enlargen! Use the "Back" button to return.

		Other maps of the area:
		General map, from 1784, that shows the old proposed stretch of canal in 1774 and the new. Notice how well the field has been mapped and how the new stretch of canal was to decrease in size and divide the field. The numbers on the map refer elevation measurements (levelling lines).

		Detail of the canal proposal from 1808, which shows how the road leading away from Ljung Manor crosses the future canal at Stora Fiskarhem. Judging from the above map, this road was built some time between 1784 and 1808.

		Map of the village Släta By, a village that later was wiped from the map. The village consisted of five farms, one of which was called the Postgård Farm. The land that was taken away was privately owned fields graded the highest quality. The buildings in Släta By were taken down, sold and moved. To where they were moved remains uncertain, but using old measurement figures there has been an attempt to identify where the houses are located today.

		Detail of map proposal from 1809, which shows the Högåsa Manor (Högåsa) and the southern road from Ljung Manor. A rolling bridge was built at this crossing. The bridge itself was built at the workshop Motala Verkstad, one of the few workshops still in use.

		Aerial photo of Ljung Manor, 1991 Source: County Administrative Board in Östergötland, Cultural Environment Office. Photo: Jan Norrman, the Swedish Central Board of Antiquities, 1991.

		General map of the stretch of canal between Cape Birgitta and Skarpåsen. (AB Göta kanal Tourist Map: Eastern Section, 1995). Blue line = Gothenburg - Stockholm route of the Göta Canal used by the firm of shipowners Rederi AB Göta kanal. Red line = bicycle path.