Hällekis

Hällekis

Skånska Cement, Hällekis, main entrance 1967
Hällekis
Coordinates: 58°37′N 13°26′E / 58.617°N 13.433°E / 58.617; 13.433Coordinates: 58°37′N 13°26′E / 58.617°N 13.433°E / 58.617; 13.433
Country Sweden
Province Västergötland
County Västra Götaland County
Municipality Götene Municipality
Area[1]
  Total 1.85 km2 (0.71 sq mi)
Population (31 December 2010)[1]
  Total 704
  Density 381/km2 (990/sq mi)
Time zone CET (UTC+1)
  Summer (DST) CEST (UTC+2)

Hällekis (pronounced "Hellekees") is a locality situated in Götene Municipality, Västra Götaland County, Sweden. It had 704 inhabitants in 2010 compared to 904 in 1960, a decline due to the closure of the main employer.[1]

Location

The village is situated on the coast of Lake Väner (Sw.Vänern) and in the Kinnekulle peninsula with a 306 m (1,004 ft) ridge and large nature reserve. The nearest large towns are Mariestad and Lidköping, both about 20 miles (32 km) north-west and south-west respectively, with which it is connected by a light rail link.

The cement factory ca.1950s

History

A mill was established in the town in the 19th century. With the availability of raw material nearby this was developed into a cement works in the 20th century operated by Blue Circle Industries (Sw.Blå Rund) under the name "Skånska Cement". The factory closed in the late 20th century.

A large house on the outskirts of the town known as Hönsäter was part of a large chicken farm with connections with the Scottish Hamilton family, notably Douglas Douglas-Hamilton, 14th Duke of Hamilton who was indirectly involved in the Rudolf Hess affair. The house and grounds are now used as an hotel.

Close-up of the factory in summer 1967, from Ektachrome slide film
Hönsäter säteri, main building built in 1667[2]

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Tätorternas landareal, folkmängd och invånare per km2 2005 och 2010" (in Swedish). Statistics Sweden. 14 December 2011. Archived from the original on 10 January 2012. Retrieved 10 January 2012.
  2. http://www.kinnekullehembygd.nu/hallekis_honsater.htm (Swedish)

See also

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