Grubbe/Västerhiske

• The birdingtower at Gran

• The governors at Gran
• Important events. Chronology Grubbe 1
• Carl von Linné visits the governor Jacob Grundel 1732

Birding tower on Gran

The birding tower on Gran can be reached from Häradsvägen road between Lundåkern and Backen Church by following Älvtået down towards the river or by taking the Cammereraren walking path. The birding tower has been adapted for accessibility and offers a lovely view for birdwatching and enjoying the countryside of the Ume River, with birdsong, water and greenery.

Visitors will find informational signs about the Ume River’s valley, the birds of Häradsvägen road and the Ume River’s songbirds.
Learn more about the birds of Gran.

County governors of Gran

The Backen area near the city is an old farming district bordering the residential areas of Backen, Grubbe and Västerhiske. The area west of the river Tvärån is called Kungsänget and was originally part of Kungsgård or stockfarm established by Gustav Vasa in 1556 to “through the zeal of example, impart to the people better insights into farming”. In addition, Kungsgård was intended to serve as a military waystation for cereal grains.

In a letter from 1556, Gustav Vasa announced that Lars Olofsson Björnram, district judge of Västerbotten, had acquired land in Umeå Parish that year for the king, and he leased out his share in the villages of Grubbe, Hiske, Backen and Yttertavle. The land thus obtained was on Backen, Grubbe and in Västerhiske. A portion of Prästbordet was added to this and collectively, a rather significant domain was formed that would be tended on behalf of the king.

The area, which was called Kungshägnet with the Kungsgårdstomten plot of land, is now west of the river Tvärån, south of Kungsgårdsvägen road and down towards the river.

On the 1812 map of Västerhiske, below the area where the administrative buildings once stood and at the border to Kyrkbordet/Backen, is the name färjestaden (“ferry city”) (deriving from the old Swedish faeriostadher or färjeställe, ferry site) with one large and one small building by the river. People reached this ferry site from the Röbäck side. The Röbäck side of the Ume River was home to a ferry site at the foot of “Sommaråbacken” which led out to Röbäcksholmen, where the ferry docked.

Carl Linnaeus’ visit to county governor Jacob Grundel in 1732

One summer’s day in 1732 during Linnaeus’ journey to Lapland, he visited with county governor Baron Jacob Grundel: “I greeted the county governor, Baron Grundel, who received me well and is the picture of gentility. He showed me and told me about countless fascinating things.

He kept in a cage several Loxias (crossbills) or conirosores, which ate Conos abietis (pine cones) perfectly, taking them in their mouths, holding them with their feet, removing the seeds with their bills. Outside the window in the marsh, I saw a blue-headed wagtail and swallows. He had also had snow buntings, which are often sold in France for a ducat, but can also be found in Skåne. There have been plenty of ruffs this year.

Potatoes do not grow larger than poppies here; tobacco has difficulty growing to seed in the best year.

Phaseolus pumila (green beans) grow well, but bittersweet never. Even Faba (broad beans) and Pisum (peas) are unable to mature; Rosa, Malus, Pyrus, Prunus non crescunt, licet cult cine summa difficulate (roses, apples, pears, wild cherry do not grow wild but can be cultivated without great difficulty). Radicula (a form of cress), Sinapi (mustard), Raphanus ruat. et hort (wild radish, radish and black radish). Shell-less peas, optimal.

In addition to the plants named above, Welsh onion, chives, Barbarea, Aquilegia, Yarrow (sneezewort), Lychnis coron. (a rose bush), Cochlearia, Ribes Grossularia, Crespinus (gooseberry), Rosa sylv. (cherry, apple [actually fruit trees]), wild cherry, Levisticum (lovage).