Øster Alling church / Øster Alling kirke, Sønderhald herred, Randers amt.

Øster Alling church, ab. 16 km southeast of Randers
Øster Alling sogn, Sønderhald herred, Randers amt.

The northern border of Øster Alling sogn is formed by Alling å and its inlet. Especially to the south is a hilly land with Knivhøj (8o m) on the border of Vester Alling sogn. The church lies in the middle of Øster Alling village. It has a Romanesque choir and nave, a contemporary or maybe shortly after built tower to the west and a late medieval porch to the north. The choir, nave and tower are in raw granite boulders with carved corner ashlars. The north door with a flat cover stone is in use, while the bricked-up south door has a half circular field in the cover stone and a similar in a frame. Original windows in the east and north side of the choir have been re-opened. In the choir was built an octagonal vault, the nave and tower-room have a flat ceiling. The porch is built in raw granite boulder and monk bricks, the gable is half timbered.

Upon the north and east walls of the nave were late Gothic frescoes from ab. 1520 brought to light. The pictures imitate weaved hangings. From the same time are the decorations of the choir vault and a fragmentaric preserved ornaments of the porch. The frescoes were restored in 1884 and 1952 in connection to a main restoration of the church. Walled communion table with a panel from the Renaissance period; the altar piece is a joinery in Renaissance style from ab. 1590, in the middle field a painting from 1854, decoration from 1952. The altar candelabres from ab. 1600. A Romanesque granite font with lion figures. A baptismal bowl in south German type from the 1500s. The pulpit from the same workshop as the altar piece is from 1590, the sounding board from 1610; it was repaired with new ornaments 1952. In the floor of the nave is a cross marked grave stone in granite, probably from the 1600s. In the porch is a rune stone, which was found as a floor stone in the door-opening. Inscription: "Thore rejste denne sten efter Fastulv Myge". ("Thore raised this stone after Fastulv Myge".


Village house

Oustrupgård and 1 farm and 2 bol (small farms) in Øster Alling were conveyed by Jens Larsen Mule in 1347 to Ivar Nielsen (Rosenkrantz). In 1376 O. came to Gl. Estrup, where it still was in 1789.

From 1687 the herredsthing (District Thing) was held in a rented building in Oustrupgårde, in 1733 it was moved to Lille- or Gl. Oustrup in Lime sogn.(parish)

In Øster Alling was a water mill, it was abandoned in the midldle of the 1600s, there are still traces of the dam.

Names in the Middle Ages: Øster Alling (1347 Østerallind, 1467 Alling); Ring (* 1452 Rindh, 1485 Ringh); Oustrupgårde (1347 Austthorp, ½1446 Ovedstrup).

Listed prehistorics: 5 hills, of which the large Øster Bjerghøj close to the border of Vester Alling sogn.
Demolished or destroyed: 34 hills, which mainly were on the hillsides at Oustrupgårde and west of Øster Alling.

Source: Trap Danmark, Randers amt, 1963


photo Øster Alling kirke 2006: grethe bachmann

Øster Tørslev church / Øster Tørslev kirke, Gjerlev herred, Randers amt.

Øster Tørslev Church, ab. 14 km northeast of Randers
Øster Tørslev sogn, Gjerlev herred, Randers amt

Øster Tørslev å passes the church and runs through a deep winding valley to Randers fjord, which makes the eastern border of the parish. The church in the middle of the village was built in 1875-76 and replaced an earlier Romanesque church. The material was partly ashlars and details from the demolished church. From the old building is the south portal with a thympanum with a Greek Maltese cross, the straight-edged north door and (possibly) the priest door with a smooth thympanum on the south side of the choir. Old window cover stones are used in the east gable of the choir and above two windows on the north side of the nave. A roughly carved male head in limstone is inserted in the bottom room of the tower, which functions as a porch. The tower has a pyramid roof , covered in slate like the other roofs. Inside are beamed ceilings in choir and nave.

The front of the communion table has a good biblical painting from ab. 1670. The altar piece is a fine carving from ab. 1670 with Fr. III's and Sophie Amalie's initials. In the middle field is a relief from 1876. The chalice has an engraved crucifix and the inscription: Rasmus Jensen priest 1625. Baluster-shaped Renaissance candelabres ab. 1600-25. In the nave hangs a fine choir arch crucifix from ab. 1250, which cross wood is framed by a carved curve. Octagonal carved wooden font resting upon lions (like in Udbyneder and Kastbjerg). Smooth baptismal bowl, probably from the 1600s. The pulpit with carved evangelists is contemporary to the altar piece and from the same workshop. Bell 1878, Meilstrup, Randers.

Jon Nielsen (Splittaf) is written in 1412 of Tørslev, Christen Munk (Vinranke-M. )of Gjessinggård was in 1579 endowed with the Crown's estate in Ø.T.

In the parish were two sacred wells. Skt. Mortens kilde in the road ditch west of the Udbyhøj-road and Skt. Niels' kilde, which probably was at Tørring mark. (field)


Øster Tørslev Å and the village seen from the church

Names in the Middle Ages and 1600s:
Øster Tørslev * 1412 thørsløff, 1463 Thøsløff); Ilshøj (* 1500s Hilleszø mark, 1579 Ilsehøfue); Tørring (* 1407 Thøring, 1463 Thyringh Mølle).

Listed prehistorics: 5 hills i.e. the large Grønhøj northernest in the parish and Skedehøj southeast of Ø. Tørslev.
Demolished or destroyed: two long dolmens, a round dolmen, an undefinable stone grave and 66 hills;two of these dolmens are mentioned in Pont. Atlas: Steenshøj and Hylhøj "store hedenske gravhøje med vældige store sten omsatte" ("Large heathen grave hills surrounded by very large stones.") - At Ågård is an important settlement from Ertebølle-culture and the grubekeramiske kultur (Pitted Ware culture), and several kitchen middens are known along the bank of the hillside. From Ilshøjgård are known lerkargrave (clay-vessel graves) from early Roman period and from Ø. Tørslev a burial site from late Roman period.


photo Øster Tørslev kirke 2004: grethe bachmann

Saksild church / Saksild kirke Hads herrred, Aarhus amt.

Saksild Church, ab. 15 km south of Århus
Saksild sogn, Hads herred, Århus amt.

Saksild-Rude Strand is a very popular bathing place with many holiday cottages. The eastern border of the parish is the sea, Århus Bugt. On the inside lies the diked and dried Kysing fjord, and to the north Norsminde fjord with a small harbour and the wellknown Norsminde Kro.

The church in Saksild has a Romanesque choir and nave with a late Gothic extension, a tower to the west from the reformation period, a porch from the same period and a sacristy at the eastern side of the choir from ab. 1730. The Romanesque building was built relatively late in raw, cleaved granite boulder . The inside of the church has beamed ceilings. In the late Gothic period was added a western extension in monk bricks without any characteristic details. The slender tower had a high point arched opening in the west side, which is now closed by a wall with a rabbet door. The porch in raw granite boulder and monk bricks is probably from the reformation period or shortly after, but very rebuilt in 1751. The sacristy with a priest-entrance was built ab. 1730, probably by parish priest Poul Poulsen (+ 1736), but in the end of the 1800s it was face walled together with the choir gable. The tower spire is probably from the same time as the sacristy.


The panel of the communion table has painted ornaments from the end of the 1500s and the altarpiece is a rich carved work in bruskbarok (DK: 1630-1660) with a large relief from ab. 1660 by Peder Jensen Kolding. It was restored in 1908. A baptismal font in stone, from recent times. Crucifix from the same time as the altarpiece. The pulpit is a simple Renaissance work from ab. 1600. A chandelier from the 1500s, according to inscription upon a wooden tablet given by parish priest Poul Poulsen. A pretty church ship from 1783. In the porch a bell from 1828 by P.P. Meilstrup, given by Niels Rosenkrantz. A fine epitaph-painting from the end of the 1600s with portraits of unidentified persons. A stone tablet for parish priest Poul Poulsen and wife (both + in 1736).


Norsminde

Bishop Peder Vognsen gave in 1203 his estate in Rude to the chapter in Århus. Rudegård or Rude Hovgård belonged 1438 and 1444 to the væbner Jes Palnesen (Godov?); it was in 1492 under Boller and came in 1499 via hr. Erik Ottesen Rosenkrantz to his late son Holger's children. These heirs, Mette Urne, Albert Friis (of Haraldskær) and Johan Rud exchanged in 1581-93 H. with the Crown. It must have been this farm which the king in 1720 conveyed to the priest Jørgen Davidsen in Odder.

Etstate in Kysing was in 1203 transferred by bishop Peder Vognsen to Århus chapter, Kysing mark (field) belonged in 1299 to the canons, and the chapter exchanged in 1589 K. with the Crown.

Lars Truedsen gave in 1346  six farms in Saksild to an altar in Århus cathedral.

Half the city of Saksild burnt down in 1699 and in 1864 burnt 4 farms and 7 houses. Kysing burnt down in 1793 except two farms.

Upon Kysing mark close to Norsminde was once a church, mentioned in ab. 1300,1430 and 1524; Store Nor and Lille Nor in Malling parish also belonged to Kysing parish. Upon the church site "Meden kirke" is still preserved a couple of ruins, mostly raw granite boulder. The church was said to have been demolished during Svenskekrigen 1658-60 (war with Sweden). Saksild sogn/parish suffered much during this war, in Saksild church was since 1659 until 1859 held a service of thanksgiving.

Old pavement and monk bricks have been found at a farm in Rude,which together with the neighbouring farm had the name Rude Hovgård.


Norsminde

Names in the Middle Ages and 1600s:
Saksild (* 1346 Sauxil); Rude (* 1203 Saxwæl ruthu, * 1204 Ruthe); Kysing (* 1203 Kysing); Norsminde (1292 Norsminne).

Listed prehistorics: In Rude plantage two long stone cists probably from Bronze Age.
Demolished or destroyed: 4 dolmens and other stone graves and 10 hills.

Source: Trap Danmark, Århus amt, 1963.


photo Saksild kirke/Norsminde 2003/2007: grethe bachmann

Sjelle church / Sjelle kirke, Framlev herred, Aarhus amt.

Sjelle Church, ab. 15 km northeast of Århus
Sjelle sogn, Framlev herred, Århus amt.


At the southern border of Sjelle parish runs Lyngbygård å (river) through a broad valley , and north of this rises a hilly land where the highest point (117 m) is north of Sjelle Fredskov. ( A Fredskov is a forest protected against clearing, grazing etc, and which areas must stay forested).

Sjelle church lies in the middle of the villlage and is a longhouse-building with a Romanesque nave and a later added eastern extension, with a tower to the west and a porch to the south. The original part of the longhouse was built in granite ashlars. The Romanesque south door with a smooth tympanum is still in use, while the north door with half pillars is walled. The three cross vaults of the nave are Gothic, but of the same character (late Middle Age) like the west tower, built in ashlars and monk bricks. The tower room has a beamed ceiling with a broad pointed arch in connetion to the longhouse. The porch in monk bricks is possibly late medieval, but was rebuilt in 1879 in connection to a restoration. Tower and porch are white-washed.

The walled communion table is hidden in a wooden panel and an antepedium. The altar piece is Renaissance and much alike in Skovby Church nearby, with 4 carved coat of arms for Hans Rostrup of Sjelle Skovgård (+1611) and fru Anne Gundesdatter Lange. In the middle field is a new painting. The altarpiece was equipped with new colours in 1940. The baptismal font has a square foot and a half circular basin and is probably rather new. The pulpit is from 1598, made by the same carpenter as the altarpiece with the names of Hans Rostrup and Anne Gundesdatter Lange. The sounding board is Baroque. (bruskbarok: 1630-70). A klingpung (= a purse placed on a long stick for collection in church) is kept in the museum "Den Gamle By" in Århus.



In the floor of the church was a large runestone, which is now placed in the porch; it is mentioned in 1591 by Anders Sørensen Vedel. In the top is a face masque and the inscription is : Frøsten satte denne sten efter sin lagsmand Gyrd, Sigvalds broder - - Tvegges (?) - - på - - ed. (Frøsten put up this stone after Gyrd, Sigvald's brother etc). Anders Sørensen Vedel presumed that the stone must be the famous legendary hero Svend Felding's gravestone, but that was before it was possible to read the runes!

Sjelle Skovgård (1424 Skoffgardt; 1465 Selloff Skouffgaard) probably belonged to hr. Laurids Hvas of Ormstrup, in 1465 his son Erik Hvas had a part of the manor, his brother-in-law Svend Torbernsen (Udsen) owned it in 1468 and a sister's son Laurids Rostrup was the owner in 1494. The manor was inherited in the Rostrup-family until the 1600s. The main building is placed high in the hilly terrain down to Skørring bæk. (brook) The present building was probably built ab. 1770 by grev Erhard Wedel Friis. Anders Sørensen Vedel says in 1591 that Jørgen Rostrup of 'Seluff Skaffgard' once found a foundation of a house where Svend Felding had lived. Here was also found a great copper pot and armor and sword which were in the borgestuen (big hall) for a long time. Ca. 1760 it is mentioned that the copper pot ' Svend Feldings Øllebrødspotte' (pot for bread-and-beer soup) was still at the manor.

According to Pont. Atlas was at Sjelle Skovgård a water mill, Skovgårds Mølle, which was demolished when Frederik IV broke down the farm buildings. Large dam systems across the water stream at the farm must be traces from this.

There are no listed prehistorics in the parish but there were 4 hills.


Names in the Middle Ages:
Sjelle: 1308 Sieløue; 1495 Sylluf; 1544 Sello.

Source: Trap Danmark, Århus Amt, 1963.


photo Sjelle kirke 2005: grethe bachmann

Stjær church / Stjær kirke, Framlev herred, Aarhus amt.

Stjær kirke, ab 15 km west of Aarhus
Stjær sogn, Framlev herred, Aarhus amt.

In the parish is a very hilly terrain from northeast. Tåstrup sø, only 12 m above sea level, lies to the southwest where the surface in several places are above 100 m and the highest point 129 m, north of Vindskovgård. In the parish is a listed forest, Stjær Stenskov, with an interesting stone-sprinkling , a rest from the melt-down in Ice Age.

The church lies in the middle of Stjær village. It was built in the 1100s and has a Romanesque nave and choir and a later added tower to the west and a porch to the south. Nave and choir are in granite ashlars, and the white-washed tower from the end of the Middle Ages is in ashlars, granite boulders and monk bricks, while the porch from recent time is in yellow bricks. The finest ornament in Stjær church is the magnificent south door with its pillars with reliefs of Samson and Michael(?), while the cover stone between two winged lions has a tympanum field with a crucifixion group. In the choir is built a cross vault, the nave has a beamed ceiling. The choir arch is extended, ashlars from the old choir arch are at the church yard. The tower has round arch openings with a middle pillar at all sides. A highplaced door at the northside is out of use after the vault of the tower was broken down.


(click to enlarge)

Communion table in oak from the same time as the neo Romanesque altarpiece with a painting from 1896. New candelabres. A Romanesque granite font with lions, birds and akanthus-decoration. A small baptismal bowl, Netherland type from ab. 1650. Pulpit in neo Romanesque style; the earlier pulpit was from 1601. The pews are from the end of the 1800s. To the west a gallery with organ. The bell is cast in 1876. Below the gallery hangs a memorial tablet for Dannebrogsmand ( medal) J.M.A. Juul and farmer Mads Jensen, who each gave 100 rigsbankdaler to the church.

Animal reliefs the portal

New decoration in 2006.
Inside Stjær church was in 2006 decorated by Stjær Billedmagere (picture artists). They created it with a respect for the church and the inventory . The colours are green and red nuances with a white cross upon benches, in windows and upon the chausuble. The white cross = The Holy Spirit Cross.


Names in the Middle Ages:
Stjær: (*1326 Styærdhæ; 1480 Stiær).

When ploughing a field in Stjær was in 1803 found a big number of copper coins ( ca. 9500 pieces) from Erik Menveds period, put down ab. 1319.

Prehistoric:
There are no listed preshistorics in the parish but there were 25 hills, which now all are demolished . In a hill north of Stjær was a rich grave from Roman Iron Age with a bronze dish , a wooden bucket, glass bowl, a bone comb, silver ring etc. Not far from here was found two gold bars from Iron Age.

Sources: Trap Danmark, Århus amt, 1963; Stjær sogneside


photo Stjær kirke 2002: grethe bachmann

Tulstrup church / Tulstrup kirke , Ning herred, Aarhus amt.

Tulstrup Church, ca. 15 km south of Århus
Tulstrup sogn, Ning herred, Århus amt.

Tulstrup sogn is a high-placed hilly land, stretching from Kattegat across Malling and Odder to Uldrup bakker at Horsens fjord. The pretty white-washed church with red tiled roofs is placed in the northern part of Tulstrup village. It has a Romanesque choir and nave and a late Gothic western extension in monk bricks. The tower was built shortly after the extension; its east wall rests upon columns in the western extension. The top of the tower is heavily re-walled, possibly in 1791, when it got its still existing pyramid roof. The porch to the south is mainly late Gothic in monk bricks, but is marked by a rebuild in 1871 with small bricks. The Romanesque building is rather late, it is in raw granite boulder with carved corner ashlars. The south door is in use, all original windows have disappeared. At the tower lie three monolit cover stones.

The whole church has a flat beamed ceiling. The altarpiece is partly made in 1790 and partly a Renaissance altarpiece. Two Apostle-figures from a late Gothic altar piece is placed above the present. A fine Romanesque granite font with double lions of classical type and evangelist symbols. Simple pulpit in late Renaissance ab. 1630-40 with a contemporary sounding board. In the choir is a portrait stone for Jost Ulfeldt of Østergård (+1563) and fru Anne Kaas (Sparre-Kaas).



Jens Ebbesen gave 1447 Øm Kloster his rights in Østergård (1447: Østergaard) ; in 1543 it belonged to Jost Andersen (Ulfeldt) of Moesgård (+1563), in 1579 to his widow Anne Kaas (Sparre-K.), later to his daughters Kirsten (+ 1632) and Hedvig Ulfeldt (+1638) and their sister's son Johan Brockenhuus of Lerbæk (+ 1648), who before 1643 sold the farm. It was said to have belonged to Niels Friis (of Vadskærgård) and Favrskov (+ 1651) and his son Mogens Friis, but in 1662 it belonged to Birgitte Krabbe (of Østergård),who in 1678 conveyed it with 5 farms and bol to baron Vilhelm Gyldenkrone of Vilhelmsborg; his sons Vilhelm and Jørgen Gyldenkrone sold in 1701 all their inheritance in Ø. to their brother baron Christian Gyldenkrone of Vilhelmsborg. Later owners: Charisius, Kaas, Gyldenkrone,Koch, Schultz, Dahl; 1911 Eleonora Bang (+ 1922), her sister's son Thorkild Dahl.

In the same place as the present main building was in 1665 a ruin of a half-timbered building. It is not known when it was demolished. The present building is from 1835. Østergård has a fine collection of early Netherland and Danish paintings.

Pederstrup was in 1465 owned by væbner Mikkel Bjørnsen, who had the coat of arms of the family Falster. Later it belonged to væbner Christiern Christiernsen, whose widow Birgitte Knudsdatter is mentioned 1504-11; in 1518 Hans Knudsen sold it to Hans Rostrup (+ 1545), whose daughter Ellen, a widow after Ove Skram, still owned it in 1605. Gunde Lange sold it in 1624 to Laurids Ebbesen (Udsen) of Lyngballegård, who in 1625 conveyed it to Otte Kruse, but P. followed Lyngballegård when L. in 1646 came to the Crown. It was placed under Århusgård and went with this to Gabriel Marselis in 1661, later it was divided in several farms.

Names in the Middle Ages and 1600s:
Tulstrup (* 1447 Tullstrup sogen); Pederstrup (1465 Pæderstrop); Hinnedrup (1546 Hindervp); Østergård (* 1447 Østergaard).

There are no listed prehistorics in the parish, but there were once 3 hills.

Source: Trap Danmark, Århus amt, 1963.


photo Tulstrup kirke 2004: grethe bachmann

Arnborg church / Arnborg kirke, Hammerum herred, Ringkøbing amt.

Arnborg Church, ab. 12 km south of Herning
Arnborg sogn, Hammerum herred, Ringkøbing amt.

The old settlement at Arnborg is closely connected to the rivers Skjern Å, Holtum Å and Rind Å with their fertile meadows. Over the years have been dug considerable quantitites lignite in the parish. The church in Arnborg lies close to a steep bank down to Rind Å. It has a Romanesque choir and nave and a porch from the reformation-period to the south. The Romanesque building is in granite ashlars, and it has kept both straight edged doors, bricked-up in the north wall, while the south door is in use. In the north side of the choir is one and in the north side of the nave are two round arch windows kept. Inside are flat beamed ceilings, the round choir arch has profiled kragsten. The porch is built in monk bricks, it has been re-walled like the west gable of the nave with small bricks and the year 1830.



The altar piece is a good carving in Renaissance from 1608, made by Ingvor Snedker. The large field is flanked by two pillars and a couple of wings with exuberant fruit bundles and figures. In the large field a painting between biblical texts. The earlier altar piece from 1862, a painting, hangs in the church. The chalice is from the last half of the 1600s, the candelabres are in late Gothic style. A confessional tablet is in Herning Museum. A Romanesque granite font with a smooth basin upon a foot shaped as a claw-capital. Two smooth baptismal bowls, probably from the 1700s. A small pulpit in late Renaissance; upon the contemporary sounding board is the year 1653. The Renaissance pews from ab. 1625 have been thouroughly repaired. A heavy iron mounted door wing, probably from the 1600s. Bell from the 1700s; it hangs in a gallow upon the east gable.



Green is probably the farm Grene to which Nicolaus Lille wrote himself in 1320. A nobility signet from the 1300s with the name Nicolaus Lithl was found in 1903 at Green mark (field) . In 1688 G. belonged under Arnborg kirke.

In excavation of the floor in Arnborg church was in 1957 found 13 coins, of which 10 Danish from Valdemar II till Chr. IX.



Rind Å

Names in the middle ages and 1600s:
Arnborg (1330-48 Arnburgh); Gl. Arnborg (* 1466 Arnborg, 1498 Gamel Arnborig); Hjøllund (* 1480 Øster Høllend, 1485 Hiølling); Skibbild (1688 Schiuild); Green (* 1320 Greue, Grene); Fasterholtgård (1610 Fasterholtt); Tovdal (1587 Thvodal, 1597 Tuodall); Birkebæk (1688 Birkebeck).

Listed prehistorics: 7 hills, all small.
Demolished or destroyed: 28 hills.

Source: Trap Danmark, Ringkøbing amt, 1965


photo Arnborg kirke 2003/2007: grethe bachmann

Fabjerg church / Fabjerg kirke, Skodborg herred, Ringkøbing amt.

Fabjerg Church, ab. 6 km southwest of Lemvig
Fabjerg sogn, Skodborg herred, Ringkøbing amt.

The church is situated in a desolate place a few km south of the village in Fabjerg and with the large Klosterhede plantation a few km to the south. The choir and nave are Romanesque with a late Gothic tower and porch. The Romanesque section is in granite ashlars on a double plinth - in many ashlars are stone mason fields. The straight edged north door is in use, while the similar south door is bricked-up. A Romanesque window is bricked-up in the east wall of the choir, furthermore one at its north side and two in the north side of the nave, east and west of the porch. A cross vault was in the late Gothic period built in the choir, and the choir arch was extended. The nave has a beamed ceiling, and the bottom room of the tower has a cross vault built in the walls, opening to the nave in a circular tower arch. The tower has a winding staircase in the north east corner and the steep gables have blændingsdekorationer in West Jutland type (flat decoration niches which breaks a smooth wall) . The late Gothic porch is built in monk bricks and it has large circular curved niches and a smooth gable.

The altar piece is a variant of Lutheranian triptychon with both loose and firm wings and a top field. It was given by Peder Skriver in 1595. In a repair in 1917-18 original biblical paintings were brought to light. An earlier altar painting from ab. 1850 hangs in the church. Candelabres in Baroque-style, but probably rather new. A Romanesque granite font with a smooth, four-leaf clover-shaped basin upon a circular foot with corner knots. Pulpit in Renaissance, ab. 1625. A simple crucifix from 1700s. A panel with a painting possibly origins from a communion table. A heavy, probably late Gothic iron bound coffin. Bell from 1504 by Peter Hanssen in Flensborg with Latin and Danish minuskel inscriptions. In the south east wall of the porch is a trapeze-shaped stone, probably a Romanesque or early Gothic gravestone. In the dike to the north is a driving gate and a wicket. A coin finding from ab. 1525 hangs in the church.

Kviesgård has got its name from the nobility family Qvie. In 1388 is mentioned Niels Qvie. In 1439 Poul Qvie pawned the farm to his sister's son Peder Arstsen (Fasti) of Ørs. In 1455 is mentioned Jep Qvie. After his death Christen Pedersen (Aal), who owned K. in 1487 , conveyed the farm to Niels Clementsen, possibly on behalf of the Crown, since he later had it as a vasaly from king Hans. By his son Rasmus Clementsen's heirs it was sold to Mogens Gøye. Birgitte Akselsdatter Brahe of Bækmark gave in 1647 K. to her sister's daughter jomfru Karen Ejlersdatter Quitzow, but in 1660 it was a peasant farm under Bækmark and in 1789 under Kabbel.

Engelund was a main farm, to which Didrik Høicken's widow Margrethe Iversdatter Friis wrote herself from 1589 till her death in 1613. Later it was owned by Jacob Grubbe of Kabbel and was 1638 occupied by peasants.

Fabjergmølle (later Vestermølle) was in 1429 by Peder Krabbe Juel of Kokholm conveyed to St. Hans Kloster in Viborg. Later it belonged to the Crown, which in 1721 conveyed it to Jens Damgaard in Hjerm.

There were two sacred wells in the parish: Baggeskilde at Hyldegård and a well in the south side of a valley at Vestergårde; both are mentioned in 1638.

When digging a garden in Fabjerg was in 1871 found a clay pot, which contained 70 daler, most German and Netherland coins, the earliest from 1651.


Opposite the church a field with "open-air-pigs"

Names in the Middle Ages and 1600s:
Fabjerg (1330-48 Fabyergh); fabjergbol 1552 Fabbiergboll, Fabiergboel); Vestergårde (1638 Westergaard); Bloksgård (1539 Blochsgaardtz jordtt); Kviesgård (* 1439 Queesgaard); Nørgård (1556 Noregaardt, 1595 Nørgaard); Korslund (1614 Korszlund); Havreballe (1595 Hauffuerballe); Børring Toft (1614 Tofft); Kærgård (1610 Kiergaard); Ørvejle (1683 Ørwellehuus); Hvirveltoft (1610 Huergeltud); Svendsgård (Svendszensgaardt); Buggesbol ( 1683 Bugens Boel); Prebensgård (1614 Prebenszgrd); Kærmark (1683 Kiærmarchshuuse); Søgård ( * 1499 Siøgaard); Kær (Lisumkær, * 1479 Lesum kier, * 1508 Kier); Fruerbol (1614 Fruboelle); Balletoft (1610 Balgethofft); Agergård (* 1502 Aggergaardt); Pindsbol (1664 Pindsboehl); Rottesgård (1683 Rottersgaard, 1688 Rattesgaard); Fabjergdal (1506 Fabergdall); Rattrup (1482 Raptrop); Brunshede 1683 Heede Huused, 1688 Heden); Sønderby skovridergård (* 1420 Synderby, Synderbye); Vestermølle, earlier Fabjergmølle )(* 1420 Fabierg mølle); Østermølle, earlier Nibsmølle (* 1505 Nyps Møllested).

Disappeared farms in the parish: Broksgård (1664 Broxgaard); Ringgård (1552 Ringgaard); Naversbol (1688 Nafuersboell); Østerbol (1688 Østerboell); Kogsbol (1614 Kogsboell); Vesterdal (1595 Westendall); Avnsborg ( 1664 Auindzborrig); Mannerup and Lundsby (* 1530 Lundsbye); Disappeared houses: Brunshussted (* 1444 Brunshusted); and Ålehuset (1688 Aalehuuset).

Listed prehistorics: 67 hills and two longhills. Most of these hills are in a hill-row along the oldtidsvejen (prehistoric road) passing Savmandsgård and Fabjerg kirke where they form pretty rows; 3 of these are rather large: one at Ny Bloksgård, another at the church and one at Savmandsgård. Outside the hill rows are some hills in Kronhede plantation.
Demolished or destroyed: 49 hills and a longhill mostly in the hill-row.

Source: Trap Danmark, Ringkøbing amt, 1965.


photo Fabjerg kirke 2003: grethe bachmann

Ferring church/ Ferring kirke, Vandfuld herred, Ringkøbing amt.

Ferring church, ab. 10 km west of Lemvig
Ferring sogn, Vandfuld herred, Ringkøbing amt.

A simple church , beautifully situated in a wind-swept and treeless piece of country close to the North Sea. The view from the sea cliff is magnificent. There is a special atmosphere over the church yard with the white-painted fences , and the church has some unique and very early Romanesque frescoes. Ferring church was built ab. 1125-1175, it has a Romanesque choir and nave and a Gothic tower. The choir is built in granite ashlars . In the southside is a leprosy-window and in the northside a bricked-up Romanesque window. It seems that the walls of the nave were re-walled already in the Middle Ages, they are in raw granite boulder with ashlars in the corners and spread ashlars in the bottom section of the wall. In the north side a window in Romanesque shape and a bricked-up door. The tower room functions as a porch, and it has like the choir a rib-less vault. From the tower room is access to a spiral staircase. The nave has a beamed ceiling and on each side of the triumph wall is a pointed arch altar niche.


frescoes, click to enlarge

All frescoes are from the 1200s, but later re-painted. Altar piece from 1638, restored in 1912. The small Gothic crucifiks of the church is now placed upon the altar piece. A Romanesque granite font. A pulpit from 1640 with a sounding board . In the nave an early gothic Madonna and a late Gothic Christ-figure. The bell with inscription is from 1469. On the National Museum is a late medieval iron-bound coffin, which in 1894 was at the church loft. Upon the church yard several characteristic West Jutland graves with white-painted fences.




Names in the Middle Ages and 1600s:
Ferring (1330-48 Færing); Borup (ab. 1525 Boerop); Bakhuse (1683 Bach); Brændgård (ab. 1525 Brændhe gord); Juelsgård (1688 Juulsgaard); Ø. and Nye Lund ( 1595 Lundt, 1844 Landgaarde); Korsled (1683 Kaarszleed); Midsommerbjerg (1664 Midsommersbierg).

Listed prehistorics: the large Hesthøj at Bovbjerg Lighthouse. According to a priest report from 1638 was close to this another hill Knudstehøj, and at Ferring village were possibly a couple of hills. - At Bovbjerg was examinated a settlement from early Roman Iron Age.


Bovbjerg Lighthouse

Bovbjerg (1434 Bomberch), 1638 Boubierge) does not look especially impressing in spite of the 46 m higher than sea level, since the terrain rises gradually, but seen from the sea shore it is an impressing sight with its rugged shapes and deep ravines. The storms have taken much of the cliff. Earlier the farmers saw their fields disappear and had to move longer and longer inland. From 1790-1874 the cliff had moved inland with ab. 160 m. In order to secure the lighthouse and its surounddings they began in 1909 to build groynes. The work was difficult, since there was no foreshore, the cement blocks (for each groyne ab. 2000 á four and a half tons) had to be hoist down a railway made down the cliff. After the building of the groynes Bovbjerg's northern section had been secured, and the sea has now deposited so much sand that there is now a broad foreshore.



The Danish painter Jens Søndergaards Museum at Bovbjerg was after his death in 1957 established in his summer house close to the cliff and taken over by Klinkby kommune; it has a collection of his paintings; outside the house is a male figure in cement.


Ferring, the North Sea.

Source: Trap Danmark, Ringkøbing amt, 1965.


photo Ferring kirke 2003: grethe bachmann

Fjaltring church / Fjaltring kirke, Vandfuld herred, Ringkøbing amt.

Fjaltring Church, ab. 12 km southwest of Lemvig
Fjaltring sogn, Vandfuld herred, Ringkøbing amt.

The church in Fjaltring has a Romanesque choir and nave, a late Gothic tower to the west and a southern cross wing. The Romanesque sections are in granite ashlars. The bricked-up door is seen circa on the middle of the north side of the nave. In the same wall are two Romanesque bricked-up windows, in the east wall of the choir one. The north side of the tower is in raw granite boulder and to the west and south in monk bricks. A large modern granite portal to the south lead to the original vaulted tower room , now furnished as a porc and with a pointed arch to the nave, which has a beamed ceiling. In the south wall of the nave is a large opening to the cross wing, which has an octagonal rib vault .


A communion table in granite ashlars behind a Renaissance panel. The late Catholic altar cupboard has biblical figures and the apostles. A Romanesque granite font, a baptismal bowl from ab. 1575. A pulpit with a sounding board from the middle of the 1600s, restored in 1922 with colours in Empire style.

Kærsgård was in 1516 conveyed by Christen Steen of Strandbygård to Anders Spend of Rammegård who had to cash it himself from Palle Juel's heirs. Anders Spend's son Jens Spend of Rammegård exchanged it in 1560 to the Crown. Later it came under Rysensten (Manor) together with Volder in Ramme parish.

In 1453 Mattis Mørk of Fjaltring gave estate to Ribe chapter.

In a ploughing at V. Mærsk Mark (field) was found a gold coin from Jacob IV of Scotland.

Names in the Middle Ages and 1600s:
Fjaltring (1330-48 Fialterwangh, 1436 Fieltringh); Tofting (1595 Thouting); Kærgård (1595 I Kier); Kærsgård (1560 Kiersgaard); Ruby (1683 Ruderbye); Nr. Dybå (* 1420 Diubuad, 1595 Dyby, 1664 Nørdybboe); Sønderby (1560 Synderbye); Mårupgårde (1453 Morthorp gardh); Nr. and Sdr. Skalkhøj ( 1595 Skalckhyff, Skallckhøuff); Ottedal (* 1441 Odal, 1595 Ottedall); Musholm (1610 Mushollm); Kirkegård (1610 Wedt Kiercke); Harbosgård (ab. 1525 Hardheboess gordt); Kjeldbjerg (1609 Kieldebierg); Klostergård ( 1595 Closter, 1664 Clostergaardt); Gadegård (1610 Paa Gade, 1638 Gadgaard); Ø. and V. Vrå (ab. 1525 Wedt Wrofue, 1624 Wroe); Gavlshøj (ab. 1525 Gowelsshywe); Mærsk (1595 Mersk, Mersch); Kærside (1664 Kierszide).

There are no listed prehistorics in the parish, but there were 5 hills, among those Møgelhøj, Skalkhøj and Gavlshøj. In the parish were several sacrificial findings from Bronze Age, in Dybådalen (river valley) a bronze sword and a finding, consisting of a hængekar ( belt jewelry) two necklaces, a broche etc. Here in Fjaltring and Trans parish ends the large oldtidsvej (prehistoric road), which from the Viborg area stretches through the western part of Viborg and the northern part of Ringkøbing amt out to the North Sea; it is possible that there once was a sea port by the mouth of Dybå (river), a center for the bronze and amber trade.

Source: Trap Danmark, Ringkøbing amt, 1965.


photo Fjaltring kirke 2003: grethe bachmann

Gudum church/ Gudum kirke & Gudumkloster, Skodborg herred, Ringkøbing amt.

Gudum Church, ab. 10 km west of StruerGudum sogn, Skodborg herred, Ringkøbing amt.

The large church in Gudum was once a klosterkirke for the Benedictine nuns, and it was probably built instead of a Romanesque ashlar building. It has a rectangular, late Gothic longhouse with a later additon, a Gothic crossarm to the south and a modern tower to the west.The late Gothic longhouse is built in dark red monk bricks in the end of the 1400s; after 1484 when the kloster was moved to here, it formed the south wing of the four winged klosterplan. In the western section of the longhouse are two bricked-up doors, to the north a flat curved door in a pointed arch frame, to the south a similar, larger door, which is visible as an inside niche. The low placed pointed arch windows have strange window frames, connected in heavy *rundstaves . Their placement must have something to do with the function as a nunnery (galleries for the nuns), and they are all bricked-up. The window in the choir to the east stands as an inside niche, it was once a double round arch window in a pointed arch frame, likewise with curved profiles.

The longhouse has a beamed ceiling, it is divided by wall pillars and was once , maybe only partly vaulted. The cross arm has a cross vault. A tower to the west, which was removed after a fire in 1631, was probably from late Gothic period. After the reformation the low placed windows were bricked-up, and were replaced with large windows in pointed arch frames. The walls have been repaired with small bricks over the years. Instead of a small 1800s-porch at the west gable was built a new tower ab. 1930. A cross marked thympanum from the presumed Romanesque ashlar building is placed in the wall.

(*rundstav = beading, which cross section is part of the arc of a circle)


A fragmentary fresco inscription was brought to light in 1914 in the disappeared choir vault ; it mentions the Ribe-bishop Hartvig Juel and the prioress Elene Juelsdatter and announces that this work was completed in 1492. The altar piece is an elegant joinery in late Renaissance from 1640 with reliefs and partly free figure images of the Holy Communion, the Crucifixion, the Resurrection and the evangelists. It was repaired in 1910. The chalice is partly late Gothic and was "improved" in 1557 by the rector of the kloster Malte Sehested. It has the name and coat of arms of Erik Ottesen (Rosenkrantz) and was in 1768 again re-made by Jens Wandborg de Stiernhielm. The Romanesque granite font, which probably is from the Romanesque church, is in the West Jutland type with sepals. The smooth brass baptismal bowl is of indefinable age. The pulpit is pretty and a little naive high Renaissance with a painted year 1622 and with the coat of arms of the vasal Gunde Lange and evangelist paintings from the 1700s. It was repaired in 1921. In the west end of the church a gallery from 1767 with the coat of arms of Jens Wandborg de Stiernhielm and good paintings of biblical motives. The bell from 1553 is cast by Rasmus Lauridsen, but its inscription was damaged by a welding. A late Gothic grave stone for Palne Juel of Ulstrup (+ after 1503) and wife Helena, the stone shows two shields above each other.



Gudumkloster has got its name from the nunnery of the Benedictine-order, which was here. An old proverb by Peder Syv says:" Han er så hellig som en Gudummunk", ("He is as pious as a monk from Gudum") must refer to the priests, who were connected to the nunnery to do the church services. The establishment-year of the nunnery is not known, but it must be earlier than 1268, where it is remembered in a will. Gudumkloster's situation in a river-valley was changed, when it in 1484 moved up to the vicarage-site and was connected to Gudum church, which till then had been a parish church, but was now a kloster church. The kloster owned most of Gudum sogn (parish) and large properties in the surrounding herreds (districts). In 1439 it achieved patronage rights of Nr. Nissum Church, in 1494 of Fabjerg Church.

The leader of the nunnery was a prioress, while a prior - either the priest or a secular nobleman - administered the estate and saw to the support of the nuns. In 1476 Lyder Juel was priest and prior in the nunnery, in 1504 and 1508 is mentioned Palle Juel in Gudum, and from 1531 Christiern Skram was administrator. From prioresses is known Ellen Juel or Hjulsdatter in 1504, daughter of Jes Persen Hjul in St. Kamstrup. At the reformation the nunnery came to the Crown, which in 1537 endowed it to Jens Thomesen Sehested of Holmgård and from 1550 to the son Malte Sehested. The nuns had still their support in the kloster, and in 1573, when the support was transferred to Mariager kloster, were only 3 nuns left in Gudumkloster. In 1670 Gudumkloster came to the Ryttergods (military) In 1717 it was sold and conveyed to captain Anders Rasch. Later owners: Vedel, Jelstrup, Olesen. Since 1939 L.B.Rahbek.



Trabjerggård was a main farm, which in 1496 was owned by Hans Olufsen, who had the coat of arms of the family Galskyt and left T. to his son-in-law Niels Spend, who in 1504 and 1513 is mentioned to T. and whose son Jens Spend owned it in 1553. In 1599 and 1619 is mentioned in T. jomfru Ellen Rytter, whose paternal grandmother was a sister of Jens Spend. In 1633 it belonged under Holmgård.

Surkær was a main farm, since the væbner Anders Spend in 1545 conveyed it to Jens Thomesen (Sehested) of Holmgård. In 1575 was the owner Jens Thomesens's son Malte Jensen of Holmgård. In 1718 it belonged to the Ryttergods, which was conveyed to Anders Rasch together with Gudumkloster.

Østergård was in 1400 owned by Peder Nielsen (Qvie). In 1520 it belonged to Christen Mørk in Ørs, and in 1574 it was by the Crown conveyed to Christen Juel of Bækmark. In 1810 conveyed to Christen Lundsgaard and Erik Houmark.

Skodborggård, after which the herred got its name and where the herreds thing was held until the beginning of the 1600s, seems to have been a main farm, which in 1490 belonged to Oluf Pedersen Glob, whose sons Anders G. and hr. Albert G. owned it in 1504. Iver Juel of Lykkesholm conveyed it in 1581 to Malte Jensen (Sehested) of Holmgård.

Krogsgård belonged to the part of the Ryttergods, which in 1718 was conveyed to captain Anders Rasch together with Gudumkloster. Various owners. In 1947 O.Pedersen.

Åmølle (listed in class B) has a beautiful place upon the flat meadow under the coast cliff to where it moved after the storm in 2-3. january 1839. The mill-building is from 1790.

There were several sacred wells in the parish: Vor Frue kilde in the valley downside Gudumkloster; Skuekilden or Skovkilden between Trabjerggård and the country road; Plumkilde in Plumkær northwest of Gudum village; Ravnskilde, probably at Østergård, Ovskilde on the nort side of a hill at Tang.

Gudum birk (judicial rights) belonged to Gudumkloster. The bishop in Ribe had in 1468 confirmation on the birkerettighederne (judicial rights) . After the reformation Gudum became a special vasalry and the judicial rights was kept until 7/10 1684, when the birk came under Skodborg herred. It was the largest part of Gudum parish.

In the parish are three castle banks. South of Ø. Lind, on the west side of Trælborgdalen is Trælborg, which is mentioned already in 1638 in a priest-report. It is natural piece of land stretching out into the river valley, on both sides bordered by natural lowland, which is connected with an artificial dry moat, which divides the castle site from the higher land. The area is partly forest. A little northwest of this castle bank north of the country road is an overploughed castle bank, which reminds much about the first. Finally is south of Skovgård on the southern hill edge out to Trælborgdalen a small castle bank, with a bank site ab. 17 m diameter, protected by a dry moat, which at both sides run out into the cliff to the river valley. The place is overgrown in forest.


Struer havn

Names in the Middle Ages and 1600s:
Gudum (1266 Guthum); Surkær (* 1503 Surkier); Trabjerg (* 1451 Trabierg bye); Trabjerg Gårde (* 1469 Trabierggaard); Bjerrum (* 1503 Bierrum); Bredal (* 1465 Nørbredall, 1664 Nør- Synnder Breddahl); Vium (* 1492 Wim); Lind (* 1503 Gudum Lind, 1614 Paa Linde); Tang (1614 Thange,Tange); Fiskbæk (* 1530 Fiskbeck); Skodborg (* 1467 Skodborg, Skodbore); Hestbæk (* 1503 Hestbech Vaj, 1614 Hestbeck); Råbjerg (1683 Raaberig, Robiere); Ørevejle (1614 Ør Veyell); Gudumkloster (* 1439 Gudom closter); Tangsgård (1440 Tangsgardh); Havskov (*1541 Hauffskouff ende, 1664 Hauschouff); Øster Tang (1664 Øster Tannge); Remmer (* 1451 Trabierg Remme, 1664 Remme, 1688 Remmer); Højbjerg (* 1520 Hogberig, Høigberigs jord, 1532 Høgeberg); Hvistendal (* 1444 Huidsteendall); Hornshøj (1613 Hornsz Hiuff); Krøjkær (* 1492 Kraadkier, 1614 Krojkier); Stavsbol (* 1471 Staffsboels jord, Stauffsboels eng); Skov ( 1614 Paa Skouff); Skovgård ( * 1499 Skowgord); Sivekær ( 1610 Sibe Kier); Gammeltoft (* 1467 Gammel Tofftt); Hedegård (1609 Hiegaardt); V. Åsbjerg ( 1614 Aatzbierg) Mølgård (* 1503 Møllgaards jord); Klostermølle (1614 Closter Mølle); Åmølle(* 1490 Aa mølen, 1492 Aarss Mølle, 1614 Aaemølle).

Listed prehistorics: 50 hills, of which a large part is a row in the hillside along the oldtidsvejen (prehistoric road), which goes east-west through the parish on the border between the good soil and the heath. 7 of the hills in this row are large, like several hills at Skodborg mose (moor). Outside the row of hills are several large hills like Rishøj at Havskov, 3 hills, like Kongshøj at the vicarage, a hill east of Tangsgård and another Rishøj in the State plantation.

Source: Trap Danmark, Ringkøbing amt, 1965.


photo Gudum kirke/Struer 2003: grethe bachmann