Part of
One of Hjo's oldest houses by the market square.

Photographer: Visit Hjo

E.B. Ohlson’s – Stora Torget 9

With its distinctive pink facade, E.B. Ohlson’s is the only pink-coloured building on Hjo’s main square – and one of the few in the town’s historic quarters. For nearly a century, the shop under this name was a familiar part of Hjo’s streetscape. But the building’s story begins even earlier, in the 1880s, when it first housed a manufactory – a bridge between traditional craftsmanship and early industry.

E.B. Ohlson’s – A Window into Hjo’s Craft and Industry History

As early as the 1880s, this location housed a manufactory – a simpler form of manufacturing industry, somewhere between traditional craftsmanship and full-scale factory production. It was common for several craftsmen to work under the same roof, coordinated by a shared supervisor. In 1911, the shop was taken over by E.B. Ohlson, under whose name it was run for an impressive 95 years, until 2006.

Facts about E.B. Ohlson’s

In the early days, windows were fixed and could not be opened, so there was no need for fittings. As people began to want at least one window per room that could open, the window frames needed to be reinforced with corner brackets. These also required hinges and fittings for opening, closing, and holding the window ajar.

The appearance of these fittings has changed over time and is an important part of a window’s historical character. Initially, fittings were forged by hand and, until the late 19th century, attached to the window frame with handmade nails.

Up until the mid-19th century, corner brackets and the upper part of the hinges were often made as one piece – as seen on the window in this display. In the latter part of the 1800s, hinges began to be riveted onto the upper part of the bracket. Later still, the hinge and bracket were separated into individual components. Corner brackets were typically painted the same colour as the window frame.

The Building’s Facade and Windows

The original 18th-century street-facing facade was replaced in the 1860s with the current design. It is likely that the windows were also replaced at that time – something confirmed by the style of the corner brackets.

Self-Guided Tour

Take a stroll and explore the historical architecture and craftsmanship of Hjo at your own pace.

Quick Facts

  • Number of stops: 17

  • What to do: At each stop/sign, scan the QR code

  • Starting point: Any stop

  • What you need: Mobile phone and QR code scanner

  • Duration: Around 1 hour

  • Walking distance: Approx. 1.5 km

  • Season: All year round

  • Price: FREE