Room Axi

About

This hall becomes a favourite with many of our guests. There is something special about the light… Around the table we have placed comfy armchairs and one can bring a cup of coffee to the meeting.

History

Sven Axi was born in Varberg’s fortress in 1879. He became director of Långholmen in 1928 and resigned in 1944. He is described as a very peaceful and stable person who thanks to his height inspired great authority. Former directors had regularly used corporal punishment but during the time of director Axi, no one was whipped. On the other hand, however, the so-called Björnburarna (the Bear Cells), the dark cells, were used for extra punishment. Director Axi had the support of the personnel even though most of them had been nurtured in Wollin’s (cf. below) much tougher spirit. A lot of storms were raging around director Axi during his time at Långholmen. Elsie Kleen, the wife of the social minister at that time, Gustav Möller, for example, reported Långholmen’s management for bad conditions. This resulted in Elsie Kleen being sentenced to two months’ imprisonment for defamation, which she served at Långholmen.

In the latter half of 1930s, the conditions at the prisons were improved, which meant great changes for the inmates. At this time all cell windows were made bigger. This is easily noticed from the windows of our hotel rooms.

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