Finnish Manor Houses 14.6.1982

A manor house (often fortified) is a country house that historically formed the administrative centre of a manor, the lowest unit of territorial organisation in the feudal system in Europe. The term is applied to country houses that belonged to the gentry and other grand stately homes. There were manor houses in most European countries, where they were sometimes referred to as castles, palaces, and so on. Ella sent me this FDC which features 10 of Finlands well known manor houses on their own respective stamps in this sheetlet on the cover issued on 14.6.1982. They are as follows:-

1/10 Kuitia Manor, in Parainen Lemlahti Island 1490 – is the oldest stone manor, built about 1480.

2/10 Louhisaari Manor, in Askainen (near Turku)1655

3/10 Frugård (Frugard) Manor, in Mäntsälä (Mantsala), Joroinen 1780, south Finland

4/10 Jokioinen 1798, in Jokioinen, south Finland

5/10 Moisio Manor, in Elimäki (Elimaki), south Finland 1820

6/10 Sjundby Manor, in Siuntio 1560 - Sjundby Manor in Siuntio, the history of the manor is known since 1417 The most well-known owner was Sigrid Vaasa, daughter of King of Sweden, Erik IV and Kaarina Maunu's daughter.

7/10 Fagervik Manor, in Inkoo (near Helsinki)1773

8/10 Mustio, Karjaa, south coast of Finland 1792. Mustio Manor, Svartå Manor. Svartå Manor is one of the most precious manor houses in Finland with a history of more than two hundred years. The Manor is situated about 80km west of Helsinki along the Finnish coast. Today it is a museum and has opened its doors to the public with guided tours.

9/10 Fiskars Manor, in Pohja, south Finland 1818

10/10 Kotkaniemi Manor, in Vihti, near Helsinki 1836.

The most well-known might well be Louhisaari Manor, the home of C.G.E. Mannerheim. After belonging to the Fleming family since the 15th century, Louhisaari was in 1795 bought by the Mannerheim family, which owned it until 1903. The Marshal of Finland C.G.E. Mannerheim was born at Louhisaari in 1867. The main building dates from 1655 and is one of the rare examples of palatial architecture in Finland. The festive floor and the service floor are in 17th-century style and furnished to match. The middle floor, where the actual living quarters were, was modernised during the 18th and 19th centuries, and the rooms in this part of the castle reflect the interior-decoration styles of that time. The castle is surrounded by an English landscape park. The main building of Louhisaari Manor was opened to public on 1^st June 1967. Louhisaari Manor is located on the southwest coast of Finland 30 km North of Turku.