Manor Timeline
2017
Boundary Change
Tamsalu parish, which included Võhmuta village, was merged into Tapa parish
2015-2016
Manor Park Restoration
First phase of reconstruction project was performed by arborial experts from Kadrioru Park, who manage Kadriorg Park, which was established by Peter the Great
2013-2014
Manor Park Project
A reconstruction project was developed with leading manor park landscape designers Artes Terræ and approved by the Heritage Protection Department
2013
Gatehouse Renovation
Renovation of the gatehouse commences, co-inciding with the 200th Anniversary of the building
2013
Book Published
The book “Võhmuta and Järsi Villages Through the Ages”, expanding previous historical research, is published in hardback
2012
Gatehouse Project
An detailed restoration project was developed and approved by the Heritage Protection Department
2012
Võhmuta Mõisapark MTÜ
Wechmuth Manor OÜ signs a lease for the manor park with Võhmuta Mõisapark MTÜ, for it to be maintained, restored, and operated on a not-for-profit basis
2012
Wechmuth Manor OÜ
Ownership of the manor complex transferred by the Niblett family to the company Wechmuth Manor OÜ, for it to be operated on a commercial basis
2011
Historical Research
Research undertaken to produce a report on “Võhmuta Manor and Village Through the Ages” along with a video (both in Estonian)
2011
Hiking Trail Opens
Local hiking trail opens; three waypoints are in Võhmuta, with two on our manor park
2009
Niblett Family
After restoring one of the buildings near the manor complex, the Niblett family move to Võhmuta
2005
Niblett Family
The manor complex and a neighbouring property in Võhmuta were bought by the Niblett family from the UK
1978
Heritage Report
Heritage Protection Department produces a report covering the history of the manor, including its owners and buildings, along with photos and old plans
1963
School Director
The director of the manor school is recorded as Aino Rannaste
1961-63
Boundary Change
During the Soviet era, smaller village councils merged and boundaries were re-arranged. Võhmuta and Türje village were joined with Tamsalu Village Council and became part of Tamsalu rural municipality in Lääne-Virumaa
1950s
Distillery Closes
As a result of a Communist empire policy reversal, it was decided to close the distillery in the early 1950s
1939
Boundary Change
During the land reform, Võhmuta parish was a transition zone between the areas of influence of Tapa and Paide. Võhmuta Municipal House was originally located in the former Võhmuta railway station, but was soon transferred to Järva-Jaani
1920
Distillery Collectivised
A new period in Estonian alcohol production started, due to the emergence of the Union of Potato Growers Associations, which signed a government contract for alcohol production. The union acted as a collective for expropriated distilleries, including ours.
1919
Manor Nationalised
The newly independent Estonia State carried out radical land reform and expropriated almost all landed property, which mostly belonged to the Baltic German nobility. The land was divided up to form new farms, which were primarily given to those who had participated in the War of Independence, to set up viable smallholdings.
1919
Ernst Georg Zoege von Manteuffel
In autumn 1919 the family moved together to Brandenburg an der Havel, Germany. Inflation destroyed his salvaged assets. Ernst was also very concerned about the loss of his homeland. Nurturing the family and raising children posed great problems for him. He fell ill in 1921 and died 2 years later.
1918
Ernst’s Memoirs (1867-1899)
Ernst Georg Zoege von Manteuffel records his early years, from his birth in 1867 through to his marriage in 1899, in memoirs written in 1918. Earlier written and typewritten versions have been preserved in digital form by his grandson, Peter Zoege von Manteuffel (all in German).
Ernst Zoege von Manteuffel (1918)
1918
Baron’s Final Stay
Immediately after the occupation of Estonia by German troops, Ernst drove from Berlin to Wechmuth, so that he could spend the summer holidays there with four sons. When the situation got hot again, in November 1918, they left the estate again.
1915
Exile
Ernst’s sister Lizzie was exiled to Siberia, because she had offered a cigarette to a German soldier in Reval (now Tallinn), as was his cousin Günther.
Ernst took his remaining family on the train from Tamsalu to St Petersburg, and then travelled through Finland to Sweden, from where he returned to the manor twice to fetch belongings.
1905-07
National Unrest
Following the loss of the Russo-Japanese war, 43 manor estates were burnt down across Estonia. Ernst took his family to safety in Sternstein, where is son Hugo Alwin Anatol was born in 1906, and they returned to the manor in May 1907.
1905
Thelma Alice Margarete Zoege von Manteuffel
Thelma, daughter of Ernst and Edith, is born at the manor
1903
Gert Sidney Leo Zoege von Manteuffel
Gert, son of Ernst and Edith, is born at the manor
1902
Wolfram Ernst Arthur Zoege von Manteuffel
Wolfram (Wolf), son of Ernst and Edith, is born at the manor
1900
Manfred Georg Peter Zoege von Manteuffel
Manfred, son of Ernst and Edith, is born at the manor
1899
Edith Alice Zoege von Manteuffel
Edith Alice Faber marries Ernst Georg Zoege von Manteuffel and moves into the manor
1897
Ernst Georg Zoege von Manteuffel
Transferred by Peter Zoege von Manteuffel to his son Ernst, for 81,000 rubles, because he was the only one of the sons who was interested in working in the estate
1888
Distillery Expansion
The distillery was significantly expanded, with a second production floor and outbuilding added, along with the installation of new equipment.
The project for the reconstruction was made by Kotovin, an engineer of the Estonian Provincial Government, who was responsible for many manor distillery designs.
1877
Distillery Rebuild
Rebuilding of earlier distillery commences
1869
Alexander Anatol Zoege von Manteuffel
Anatol, son of Peter and Ludmilla, is born at the manor
1868
Elisabeth Emma Zoege von Manteuffel
Elisabeth (Lizzie), daughter of Peter and Ludmilla, is born at the manor
1867
Ernst Georg Zoege von Manteuffel
Ernst (Erni), son of Peter and Ludmilla, is born at the manor that he would later take over from his father
1866
Peter Arthur Zoege von Manteuffel
Peter V (Peti), son of Peter IV and Ludmilla, is born at the manor
1865
Peter Zoege von Manteuffel
Peter IV (Apapa) Zoege von Manteuffel and his new wife Ludmilla (Amata) move into the manor
Peter & Ludmilla Zoege von Manteuffel (1865)
1864
Peter Zoege von Manteuffel
Peter Zoege von Manteuffel acquires ownership of the manor from Karl Otto von Schilling
1861
Peter Zoege von Manteuffel
Karl Otto von Schilling pledges the manor to Peter Zoege von Mannteuffel for three years, for 80,000 silver rubles
1859
Karl Otto von Schilling
Major-General Alexander Ferdinand von Essen sells the manor to Karl Otto von Schilling for 70,000 silver rubles
1858-59
Peasant Unrest
There was a period of large-scale peasant unrest in the estates of Einmann, Karinu, Porkuni, and Võhmuta manors
1849
Paul Andreas von Dehn
Major-General Alexander Ferdinand von Essen sells Seliküla village, part of the Võhmuta estate, to Paul Andreas von Dehn for 50,000 silver rubles
1847
Alexander Ferdinand von Essen
Major-General Alexander Ferdinand von Essen sells Metsamõisa village, part of the Võhmuta estate, to Julie von Suikoff (born von Wrangell) for 4,000 silver rubles
1841
Alexander Ferdinand von Essen
The estate was bought by Major-General Alexander Ferdinand von Essen
1834
Georg Hermann von Baumgarten
The manor was sold to Georg Hermann von Baumgarten and it stayed with his heirs for quite some time
1815
Karl Wilhelm von Rosen
Hans Ludwig von Tiesenhausen pledges the manor, along with Karinu manor and Seliküla village, to Karl Wilhelm von Rosen for ten years, for 55,000 bank rubles
1813-14
“Victory” Gatehouse
A classical style gatehouse – the only one of its kind in Estonia – was built during this time, as a monument to the Russian-French War of 1812 and victory over Napoleon
1800-10
Stables & Dairy
The building surrounding the manor house were erected; a stable and a dairy, similar to each other in size, were built on the sides of the main square
1807
Dorothea Heloise Freiin von Tiesenhausen
Heloise, daughter of Hans Ludwig, is born at the manor
1804
Hans Ludwig von Tiesenhausen
Hans Ludwig von Tiesenhausen inherits Aavere and Võhmuta manors, valued at 100,000 silver rubles, after the death of Gustav Johann von Tiesenhausen
1771
Gustav Johann von Tiesenhausen
Captain Joachim Friedrich von Rosen sells the manor to Lieutenant Gustav Johann von Tiesenhausen for 40,000 rubles
1768
Andreas Graf von Manteuffel
Captain Joachim Friedrich von Rosen sells the manor to Lieutenant-General Andreas Graf von Manteuffel for 35,000 rubles, although it appears to have been returned – possibly due to his death in the same year
1764
Joachim Friedrich von Rosen
Võhmuta village is bought by the Rosen brothers, heirs to Constans Höppener. Major Andreas Ludwig gets Väinjärve manor, and Captain Joachim Friedrich gets Võhmuta manor for 6,000 rubles
1759
Joachim Friedrich von Rosen
The heirs of Constans Höppener sell the manor to Captain Joachim Friedrich von Rosen for 3,000 rubles and 240 lots of silver.
Joachim Friedrich von Rosen’s ancestors previously sold Võhmuta village to Jacob Höppener, however the Estonian Supreme Court annulled the pledge agreement.
1756
Hans Heinrich von Tiesenhausen
Tiesenhausen, whose family also owned Orina (Orgena) manor, took full possession of Võhmuta manor
1726
Hans Heinrich von Tiesenhausen
Following the Great Northern War, Võhmuta manor was pledged to Hans Heinrich von Tiesenhausen
1682
Brigitta Höppener
The first manor house in Võhmuta was built by Brigitta Höppener, who also owned Jalgsema, Järsi, and Türje village
1680
Brigitta Höppener
The sons of Andreas von Rosen demand the village back from Brigitta Höppener
1669
Brigitta Höppener
Andrea von Rosen (Väinjärv) sells Võhmuta village to Jacob Höppener’s widow, Brigitta
1668
Brigitta Höppener
State Secretary, Governor Bengt Horn gives the manor (with Jalksam) to Jacob Höppener and his bride Brigitta (born Rode)
1657
Written Mention
Written documents mention the village of Wechmut
1639
Bogislaus von Rosen
Bogislaus von Rosen took possession
1627
Thomas Karre
The estate, then owned by Thomas Karre, had grown and stretched to Väinjärv
1615
Heinrich Ahnen
The villages were subsequently owned by Heinrich Ahnen and later by his widow Elisabeth Ahnen
1593
Heinrich Leiel
Nobleman Heinrich Leiel (Leielen) took power over Võhmuta, Ramma, and Karinu villages
1519
First Mention
First recorded mention of Wechmuth (Võhmuta), then known as Wemes or Wames