Gørding church, Southwest Jutland (Region Syddanmark)

Gørding kirke/ Gørding church is a Lutheran church norh of Gørding station-town ab. 21 kilometer east of Esbjerg . 

The church (from 1100-1200s) and the church yard are situated north of  Holsted river. South of the church yard lies the school, northeast the inn and to the east the vicarage with a garden down to the river.

The church has a Romanesque choir and nave  - extended to the west probably already in the Roman period. In the late Middle Ages was added a porch in front of the south door of the nave. The porch seems to have been an entrance hall and a windbreak only. In the gable of the porch is a Romanesque gravestone and a cover stone above the door. 

The west tower is built in monk stone, but at the bottom to the south and west are used granite ashlars from the west gable of the nave. A reparation is marked by iron numbers: 1759 and the initials of the church owner and his wife HCW, Henrik Christian Worm and IT, Ingeborg Teilmann . The tower room opens to the nave with a round arched arcade, decorated by small tiled crow bands. The room is covered by a crossvault . The entrance to the tower is from outside by a spiral staircase.

A palmette decorated window lintel in the choir and a cover stone from the southdoor of the nave - now in the porch - connect the building to a group of southwest Jutland ashlar churches from the time of king Valdemar Sejr. The church might have been built by stone masons who earlier worked in Grimstrup, Brøndum and Brørup

The church walls rest upon a beautifully carved profiled double granite plinth.  

The choir might have had 5 windows. The window in the eastern gable has a decoration of round sticks and palmette which is characteristic of about ten west Jutland churches like Grimstrup, Vester Nykirke and Brøndum.

The walled north door is seen inside as a broad flatbowed glare. Outside is only a trace of the bottom. 

The roofworks above choir and nave are probably medieval. They are in heavy oak timber, braced by earlier dated storm battens. The roofwork of the church is lead. The porch is an alike construction but since 1928 with a tiled roof.

By a reparation in 1916 came up frescoes in the northside of the nave - a painter later decorated a loft decoration and frescoes in a rather bastant way - but they were removed by a restoration in 1950. Some frescoes in the northwall of the nave were probably late medieval, they were sketch like scenes but they were washed over and are known from photos,  showing animals looking like fable horses/ Unicorns.

Before 1528 the church had two bells, one from ab. 1350 -  the other is not known since king Frederik I was allowed by the Danish Rigsråd to collect the bell in order to build canons. In 1970 the church was given bell nr 2 with inscription: given by Aksel Emil Petersen, parish priest in Gørding 1947-63 , bell carved 1969 .

 In the eastern part of the church yard is a mortuary from ab 1927,  whitewashed and with crennelated gables.

 

Inventory

The main decor is from the period of king Christian IV. A manor chair from 1597 has the coat of arms of Frands Pol of the later abandoned Stårupgård, the west pulpiture is dated 1620,  and the pulpit from 1622 has coat of arms for Margrethe Krag of Varho and the initials of the church guardians and the priest Niels Pedersen Præstkjær.

The late Middle Age is represented by the bell  from 1350-1400, by the kernel of the Gothic altar board from ab 1500 and from a clerk chair from ab. 1525 with the coat of arms of bishop Ivar Munk and probably the parish priest or the church guardian. The Gothic altar piece - which might have had a modernization in king Christian IV's period - had its present look by a repair in 1732, made by the church owner Christian Carl v. Gabel of Bramminge.

The Romanesque font in reddish granite is from the same time as the church building. It is of the west Jutland type like other fonts in the region. The tall foot has some big strangely loopy corner knots which are seen in Horne, Vester Starup and Hunderup church. The font has its present place in the middle in front of the choir entrance. 

 A pulpit from 1622 given by "Fruen på Varbogård" Margrete of Jylland .Upon the sounding board is seen her coat of arms with the crow as a symbol and the year 1622. The pulpit is decorated with 5 reliefs with scenes from the childhood and youth of Christ. 

About 1250 the church got a crucifix which is a very rare piece of church art. Today it is placed upon the wall on the northside of the church. There are only two of this kind in the Christian world (info from the National Museum). The crucifix is a mix of Gothic and Romanesque church art. In the Roman period ab. year 1200 the victorious Christ is seen with a golden crown and an upright symmetric attitude -   in the Gothic period the suffering Christ is seen with the thorn crown and an assymmetric suffering attitude. By the crucifix are figures of the mother of Christ and of the disciple Johannes.  

The crucifix group must be a local work, made from west European role models in the breaking time between Roman and Gothic style. Characteristic is the attitude of Christ, probably known from a French Christ figure in Le Mans, dated 1210-30. A Nordic feature is that Maria wears a crown like Christ.

The altar chalice is Gothic from ab 1600, the Netherland baptismal dishes from 1648 have the coat of arms of Erik Bilde and Margrethe Krag of Varho. 

Altar candlesticks , 1648, with coat of arms and initials of the givers Erik Bilde and Margrethe Krag of Varho. 

A copy of Frederik I's bible belonged to a family in Ilsted and was according to inscription given to Gørding church in 1974. It has a pretty leather binding from 1787 and ornamentik and brass fittings and  the year and the former owners initials. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hello dear followers and readers!

A whole year has gone now with pandemi and corona and vaccination. This has really been and still is  a tough period for all of us and I can only hope that we are moving forward to a better and more promising time. 

I myself - being old enough -   have got two vaccinations with Pfizer.

I hope that I can find and write some interesting articles for you this year. More churches and more manors in Denmark !

 

Have a nice day!

Grethe Bachmann/ aka "Thyra".

 

 

 

Sæby church , Vendsyssel, Northeast Jutland

Sæby old watermill

The small  town Sæby lies in an idyllic landscape by the mouth of Sæby river  at Kattegat Maybe the Vikings were the first who lived here in a small village. In 1450 was  a small church was built near the sea. Both the town and the nearby manor Sæbygård belonged to the rich Børglum bishopric -  and in the 1460s the bishop Jep Friis established a Carmelite kloster by the church. The kloster was inagurated to Sct. Maria and the town was called Mariested, a name which was changed into Sæby after the reformation. The bishop Stygge Krumpen provided the municipal rights for the town in 1524.

Sæby church is the prettiest small town church in North Jutland. The church was built in ab. 1400. The Gothic church was originally a parish church, but in 1460 a Carmelite-kloster was established in Sæby on the initiative of the Børglum bishop Jep Friis. The kloster buildings were built on the northside of the paris church, and the church was at the same time in the years after 1460 extended to the east with an access to the kloster. To the westwas built a tower. The long church (54 m) but narrow church was extended with a stately south chapel which opens towards the nave with arcades and with a great light from the windows. The main entrance is to the west in the tower which vaulted underroom is a front hall.



The frescoes are among the most important in the district. The earliest at the north wall  are from the first part of the 1400s. The eastern vault of the nave and the choir vault are completely covered by frescoes from ab. 1500. They are attributed to the socalled Sæby workshop which artworks also  are found in Vrå church and in Budolfi church in Aalborg. The southern chapel is completely covered by winding ornaments, only the south west vault has original paintings  from ab. 1525, while the other vaults are repainted in 1888. Two coat of arms are also seen for the last bishops of Vendsyssel, Niels Stygge Rosenkrantz and his follower Stygge Krumpen who lost his office in the reformation in 1536.

The church has a rich inventory. The late Gothic altarpiece is magnificent - a Netherland work from the beginning of the 1500s. In the southern chapel hangs a contemporary Maria figure, a late Gothic carving with a fine decoration. The figure is attributed to the Odense-carver Claus Bergs workshop ca. 1520. The communion table has a painted antepedium with a tablet from 1697 and the coat of arms of Holger Pachs and Lisbeth Bille of Sæbygård.

The pupils from Latin school made sketches of ships.

In the choir are kept 20 original late medieval monk-chairs in oak with pretty late Gothic carvings. A special detail are the sketches of ships which the pupils from the Latin school  have made while they had to listen to the hour-long sermon of the parson.. ( 52 sketches of ships from the period 1550-1739)

The granite font is from 1906. An older baptismal font,a  wooden carving from 1645 is now in the chapel. The pulpit is a Renaissance work  from 1577 with a Baroque decoration from 1695. The ore candelabres were given by Niels Iwersen and Ingeborg Banner in 1586.  In the front hall is a late Gothic crucifix from ab 1500, in the church are two other crucifix

There are several grave memorials in the church ( like epitaphs from the 1700s).


The present church yard replaced the old one in 1872. In an excavation in 1977 were found rests of  the kloster buildings. The rests of the kloster were broken down in 1536 and the monk stones were used to secure the harbour. On the other side of the square lies Sæby hospital established in 1565 by the nobleman Mogens Juel of Knivholt. 

Holbækgaard , Holbæk parish, Norddjurs Kommune

Holbækgaard
The manor lies in flat salt marshes ab. ten meter above sea with a free view over Randers Fjord. It is not known if it was a robber's nest in the old days, from where was an fine access to the merchants' ships. The first residing here was probably by one of Denmark's most notorious men, the socalled "king's murderer" Rane Jonsen of the family Rani. He was the owner of much estate in the country when he was convicted an outlaw together with his companions in 1287. His estate came to the Crown  - and the estate at Djursland was established as Ranes Gods (Rane's estate) which existed up into the 16th century.

After Rane Jonsen are mentioned several clerical and secular owners of Holbækgaard, but the names and ownerships are not clear. In 1340 it is said that Peder Munk "must have his farm in Holbæk given back" and in 1367 he is written of Holbækgaard. Still it is not sure if he was the owner. A long feud between the bishops in Aarhus and the family Munk did not end until Erik of Pommern had made judgment in 1408, where it should belong to the bishop in Aarhus. Peder Munk had possibly wrongly owned the farm or he was a vasal at Holbækgaard by bishop Svend who like himself was at odds with Grev Gert.

After the long feud which ended in 1408, the bishopric of Aarhus probably owned Holbækgaard manor and estate and Holbækgaard stayed in the ownership of the bishops until the reformation, where it was transferred to the Crown like other clerical estate. The last vasal Anders Jacobsen from a not wellknown noble family Hvittenstjern kept the vasalry but died shortly after and was followed by his widow, who in 1540 was succeeded by Hans Stygge who in 1544 bought it from the king.

There are almost no traces from the old Holbækgaard. The low rampart is disturbed and only the western part is kept, but it is obvious that it was circular with a 4o meter diameter and rather modest. The new owner built  the stonehouse, mentioned in 1568, it was probably a freestanding building with a flat cellar  and two storeys, only 17 meter long  and tower-like. It had the mark of the late Gothic period  and it might easily have been built shortly after Hans Stygge became the owner, but possibly a litte later since the year 1560 is said to be carved upon the building. Hans Stygge also built a timbered house and here was kitchen, bakery, castle room etc. while the stoneh

coffin plate for Hans Stygge,

ouse only had few rooms. The second storey might have been a dance hall.

According to the taste and conditions  of that time Holbækgård was a genteel residence. Hans Stygge died in 1568. He was noted by firmness and honesty. After him came his son Mourids Stygge,who for a long time was High court judge in North Jutland. He increazsed the property exchanges with the king. He left some diary books where he mentions that he "kept house at Huolbeckgaard". In 1580 he was married to Anne Iversdatter Lykke in the hall. The family Stygge died out already in the middle of the 17th century. Fru Anne Lykke resided after her husband's death at Holbækgaard for some years. Three sons had died before their father and the fourth the son Peder was killed in 1613 in Sweden in the fight at Skellinge Hede. Shortly after this fru Anne Lykke sold Holbækgaard to hr. Albret Christensen Skeel of Fussingø. He died ab. 1623 in Randers, ca. 70 years of age .

Albret Skeel was a coleric man, but a very able rigsråd and admiral. He was vasal at Riberhus from 1601, and he increased the estate of Holbækgaard. In 1630 he transferred it to his eldest son Christen, who lived here until 1633. Maybe it was for his children that Christen improved the stonehouse, since he extended it to the north and improved it in other ways. In the wall above the entrance of Holbækgård is a stone with the coat of arms of Christen Skeel and his first wife Birgitte Rud and the year 1645.

Christen Skeel

Christen Skeel died in 1659 after having outlived his second wife Margrethe Jørgensdatter Lunge. He has been characterized as one of the finest Danish noblemen. He was both State Commissioner and rigsråd, and he was used in many public services like in  some embarrassing negotiations with Karl Gustav. (Sweden) He was a very sympathetic personality . His leftover writings, esp. his diary give much good information.

After his death his big estate was shared among his children. His daughter Berthe inherited Holbækgaard. It seems she also inherited the best qualities of her father's. She was married to Lieutenant General and Commander Niels Rosenkrantz of Skovgaard. They married 1661, but he died 14 years later - he was killed at the siege of Helsingborg. Berthe resided as a widow and owner of her father's manor until her death in 1720. Her husband had as a gift from Christen Skeel got Holbæk and Udby church with estate, and Berthe decorated those two churches where she was now the owner. In Holbæk church she rised in 1682 a richly carved altarpiece etc.


It was Berthe Skeel's wish to keep Holbækgaard for her family Skeel. She therefore established in 1700 manor and estate as a stamhus (entailed estate). Her own children died when they were little, but she brought up many aristocratic children. The entailed estate was meant for her orphant niece Charlotte Amalie who was the daughter of prefect Mogens Christensen Skeel of Fussingø. She later got royal grant to gather manor and estate under her own birk,  which existed until 1852, to which the manor  Stenalt also belonged (the manors had then a common owner). 



later owners
1720 Chr. L.v. Plessen
1727 Axel Bille
1765 J.E.Røtgersen Tegder
1779 H. Amnitzbøll 
1791 R.A.Amnitzbøll
1852 A.T.H. Mourier Petersen
1893 H.H. Quistgaard
1908 A.J Hastrup
1914-41 various owners
1941 Anna Marg. Hornemann 
1945 Elisabeth Ratel 
1961-73 C.L. Ahlefeldt-Laurvig 

1973-92 unknown 
1992  Niels Bjerregaard/Anette Rønne


Source Danske slotte og herregårde, bd 14, arkivar, can,mag. S. Nygaard;  

photo: wikipedia 

Brøns church, Tønder Kommune, Sønderjylland

Brøns church, 15 km south of Ribe.

sundial

The church in Brøns is literally one of Denmark's big churches, known as Denmark's largest village church. It is known for its fine Gothic inventory and the unique frescoes. The artist reproduced in his paintings his view of the decay of the Pope church in the 1530s.

The 47 m long whitewashed building stands upon a profiled granite plinth. The church was in the Middle Ages consecrated to Sankt Villads and had a close connection to Ribe cathedral. 

Apse and choir are the earliest, Romanesque from the late 1100s, built in tufa stone.  The nave (in tufa stone) was built in the beginning of the 1200s. The large windows are new, but four Romanesque windows can still be  traced at the northside. In  a window of the nave is a glass painting by J.T.Skovgaard. Choir and nave have a flat beamed ceiling. The apse is covered in a late Gothic rib vault. The beamed ceiling has acanthus decorations from the 1700s.

Upon the northside of the choir is a closed priest-door, but all other original doors have disappeared. The late Gothic tower was built in monk bricks in the late 1400s. It rises 31 m tall with a typical spire (Tørninglen-type).The  present entrance is via the tower room.Here are frescoe-rests in the vault and a Romanesque gravestone in granite with a relief cross.

The little special ridge turret upon the choir is from the Renaissance period. All roof work is original and is signed with runes and the name Didrik.
 




 












Inventory:
Late Renaissance altarpiece is probably carved by the Varde-master Jens Olufsen. The paintings in the fields are original. Upon the gallery 12 apostel figures from a late Gothic triptychon and an organ from 1699, later rebuilt.  In the choir a monstrance-cupboard from ab. 1300s. The Romanesque granite font is somewhat scrapped in 1858, upon the basin are four male heads and diverse ornaments, upon the foot four corner heads. Above the font a sounding board from 1651. Upon a newer beam in the triumph arch a large crucifix group from the late 15th century. A simple Renaissance pulpit. Closed pews from 1730. A late medieval church coffin and an armored moneyblock from the 17th century. Two late Baroque style epitaphs. A Romanesque gravestone in the tower room and ab. 20 gravestones from the 16-18th century. The church was restored in 1961 by architect R. Graae.



Frescoes

 The frescoes in Brøns have a unique place among Danish frescoes. The frescoes upon the northern wall of the church are from the 1530, in the time of the reformation. The inspiration comes from Germany  They are filled with clerical and secular figures dressed in colourful and draped robes from the 1500s. The frescoes in Brøns is a unique document from the time of the reformation . 

 







photo: grethe bachmann
source: Danmarks kirker, Niels Peter Stilling, 2000. - Nordens kirker - Danmarks kirker. dk - wikipedia. 

Hjermitslevgård and Tolstrup church, Vendsyssel

Before: Tolstrup sogn, Børglum herred, Hjørring amt
Now: Region Nordjylland, Brønderslev kommune, Tolstrup sogn 


Hjermitslevgaard is the easternest estate in Øster Hjermitslev village. Hjermitslevgaard was  already in ab. year 1400 a noble farm which belonged to Niels Vognsen of a noble family with three blue male heads in their coat of arms. He and his wife Ingerd Hermansdatter Flemming Pennow, (who was widowed in 1425) gave a farm in Øster Hjermitslev to Tolstrup kirke. His son Morten Nielsen Vognsen became the owner after his father. He was written to Hjermitslevgaard in 1444. He had 6 children,who probably all had a part in the estate. Niels Mortensen was probably the first owner. He had a feud with Børglum kloster. Another owner, his brother Vogn Mortensen was in 1491 at the king's court to bring a case against Børglum kloster, but the kloster won. A sister Ingerd Mortensdatter - married to Niels Pedersen Skovgaard of Egebjerg -  had also a part in Hjermitslevgaard, like another sister, Ide Mortensdatter - who was married to Thord Roed of Vaarst. Their daughter fru Maren Thordsdatter  let "occupy" the estate for her and her children. Finally a brother to the first mentioned,  Johan Mortensen Vognsen had a part in the estate, where he lived in 1481, it seems like he outbought his co-heirs.

farm building

Johan was married to Mette Jensdatter Rotfeld and had  two children, a daughter Anne who was married to the above mentioned Thomas Thordsen and a son Morten Johansen who got Hjermitslevgaard. He drowned in Sweden in 1498 together with his father-in- law. Morten Johansen was married to Dorte Jespersdatter Lunov from Aalegaard. She lived as a widow in 1542: She and Morten had three daughters. Kirsten was married to a common citizen Claus Dytmærsk in Aalborg (he could not own free estate) so Hjermitslevgaard went to the two other daughters, Mette and Anne. Anne was married to Svend Orning of Eget, and Mette was married the first time to Bagge Pallesen Griis of Slettegaard, who in 1534 was bishopric vasal at Klarupgaard. When the North Jutlanders rebelled in 1534 under skipper Clement and burnt down both Hjermitslevgaard and Klarupgaard, Bagge wanted to take revenge. He tried during a conversation to encount his daggert into skipper Clement, but Clement wore a breastplate under his doublet, so the attack failed, whereafter Bagge took fligth out of Aalborg. He almost escaped his persecutors, but a shoemaker Peder Beske threw a tile in his head, and shortly after he was found dead in Hasseris kær. (a wet area outside Aalborg.)

The remains of Hjermitslevgaard.

 Bagges widow, Mette Mortensdatter married  after 1537 Jens Thomesen Dan. He was probably from Albjerg in Torslev parish, and he was written of Hjermitslevgaard in 1568 and 1582. Jens and Mette gave the present altar candelabres to Tolstrup kirke, where they probably are buried. Mette had with Bagge Griis a daughter, Karen who died before 1568 and a son Morten Baggesen Griis who died young. Fru Mette resided as an old lonely widow at Hjermitslevgaard, which she sold in 1587 to governor in Norway, Enevold Kruse who died 1621 as the owner of many estateas and manors. He was married to Else Jørgensdatter Marsvin who died in 1632. They probably built the bricked house to the west of the castle yard which still exists, and probably also two timbered houses in the castle yard with towers and spires and surrounded by moats. Enevold Kruse had 10 children. His son Jørgen Kruse inherited Hjermitslevgaard. He was born ab. 1597. During his ownership were three hostile attacks in Jutland which undoubtedly destroyed his economy -although the  tradition says it was alchymi - which as known ruined his son-in-law Valdemar Daa.


In 1668 Hjermitslevgaard was taken over by the Crown, the manor was sold and had various owners, in 1678 the wellknown witch hunter Jørgen Arenfelt of Rugaard. In 1988 Carl Felician Szabad, in 2000 Søren von Dosenrode.


Hjermitslevgaard is listed. 

Tolstrup church

Tolstrup kirke  was built between 1150-1200. Until year 1921 it belonged to Birkelse estate. In 1939 the church is mentioned as newly restored, probably after the new tower was built. The church has a Romanesque choir and nave and a late Gothic porch at the northside and the bottom part of a Gothic tower upon which was built a new tower in 1937. The Romanesque sections are in granite ashlars which on the southern side rests upon a plinth and on the nave with a profiled plinth. The choir had originally an apse and the walls are mostly rebuilt. Above the north door is a tympanum with a carved cross, while a similiar tympanum with a relief cross from the demolished south door stands upon the church yard west of the tower. The nave has a beamed ceiling, the choir a late Gothic eight divided vault..

In the choir was a window in the eastern gable, which outside is bricked up with granite a ashlars, but inside is marked in granite ashlars. The porch is in ashlars and monk bricks upon a profiled plinth. The upper section of the gable with glares and steps is new. The late Gothic tower was probably about 1770 demolished down to the height of the nave, and the church was without tower until 1937, when a new tower was built upon the old tower base.

Interior
Triptycon altar piece createde by Svend Engelund from 1984. The altar piece from the late 1880s is in the chapel. Some late Gothic figures from a disappeared altar piece are now in the National Museum. The chalice was given by Ove Skeel and Sophie Hedvig Rantzau, the baluster shaped ore candelabres were given by Jens Thomesen Dan and Mette Mortensdatter Vognsen, Hjermitslevgaard. The simple Romanesque granite font upon a circular foot stands in the western part of the nave. The pulpit is a good joinery in Renaissance from 1612 with a contemporary sounding board. A late Gothic crucifix. The church bell without signature is from late Gothic period about 1450-1500. Below the choir is a closed burial vault for the owners of Hjermitslevgaard. In the choir a figure stone for jomfru Anne Mortensdatter Vognsen and for manager at Hjermitslevgaard, Christen Christensen  Solholdt. Epitafs for manager Peder Thomsen Kiærulf and wife and for parish priest Niels Ifversen and Jens Jessen.

Asdal Manor and Asdal Church, Region North Jutland, Vendsyssel

Asdal, wikipedia

Today:
Asdal, Region Nordjylland, Asdal sogn, Vennebjerg herred, Hjørring Kommune 


Before 1970: Asdal, Asdal sogn, Vennebjerg herred, Hjørring Amt.  
  





The first owner of Asdal is from the 1300s, hr Niels Ovesen of the nobility - which by the genealogs from their family coat of arms named Panter. Niels Ovesen Panter and his wife fru Johanne Andersdatter (Stenbrikke) owned the manor - but besides Asdal Niels Ovesen was the owner of  much estate in this region, like Skovgaard and Kærsgaard in Vennebjerg herred and Knivholt in Horns herred. He was a wealthy and respected man, he was a knight and had two of his children married into the zealand nobility family Lunge. The daughter Ingeborg, ( widow after 1429), married ca. 1390 the later rigsråd and hofmester Anders Jacobsen Lunge.

Asdal was inherited by Niels and Johanne's son væbner Anders Nielsen Panter, who in 1393 wrote himself of Asdal and was married  1) to Regitze Jacobsdatter Lunge , who died soon after. Anders died 1405 or 1406 but he had before this married Ide Lydersdatter Holck (+ earliest 1425) , who in 1406 owned Asdal and later married hr Lyder Kabel of Fuglsang (+ earliest 1440), who in 1415 wrote himself of Asdal. Lyder Kabel and Bonde Due of Torup (Hillerslev herred) on behalf of his wife achieved in 1419 by a share of inheritance 2/3 of Asdal, while 1/3 of the manor went to Anders Nielsen Panter's sister fru Ingeborg Nielsdatter Panter's (+ earliest 1411) husband , rigshofmester hr. Anders Jacobsen Lunge (+ 1429).

Asdal,  foto Den store Danske.

Bonde Due (+ earliest 1430) was married to fru Ide's daughter * fru Johanne Andersdatter Panter (+ 1477) and took over in 1419 hr. Lyder's part in Asdal; fru Johanne , who was said to be the last member of her family (Panter), was in 1462-63 royal vasal in Vendsyssel; her second husband was hr. Niels Eriksen Banner of Vinstrup (+ earliest 1444), who in 1425-43 is written of Asdal. A relative of Niels, hr. Jens Eriksen Banner( + earliest 1444) must also have had a share of Asdal, which he wrote himself of in 1423. After the death of Niels Eriksen Banner fru Johanne wrote herself in 1455-74 of the manor; in the division of the estate after her Asdal estate was laid out to her son rigsråd hr. Anders Nielsen Banner, who already in 1454 and 1463 had written himself of Asdal. At his death in 1486 his only son Erik Andersen Banner, who in 1480 wrote himself of Asdal, had died a few years before (+ latest 1483) , but his widow Karen Stensdatter Gøye is mentioned in 1480-88 of Asdal; she later married rigsråd hr. Niels Høg Banner of Eskær (+ 1524).

Johanne Panter

* fru Johanne Andersdatter Panter, who died in 1477 the last of her family, achieved great wealth from inheritance - and in the nobility family books is told that she was a member of rigsrådet. This is  said to be a legend, but she was in 1462-63 royal vasal in Vendsyssel. It was said that her family rejected Bonde Due's proposal to her, but he abducted her and they were married. When in 1419 was a legal change after old Niels Ovesen, Bonde Due was present for his wife and Anders Jacobsen Lunge for his wife as heirs. Both achieved parts in Asdal, but since fru Johanne before 1422 married again, this time to hr Niels Eriksen Banner, Asdal came into the ownership of this family and stayed there for almost 200 years as one of the main houses of the family Banner. 

Aalborghus, wikipedia

Niels Eriksen Banner was from Zealand, his father owned Vinstrup and Niels inherited also this manor. He was in 1438 rigsråd and vasal at Skivehus, later vasal at Aalborghus. He lived still in 1444, took part in devoting Erik of Pommern  and in calling for Christoffer of Bayern. His son, Anders Nielsen Banner,  achieved even more respect  for the family, he became ridder and rigsråd  and was like his father royal vasal at Aalborghus, and this vasalry was later owned by his son and son's son. The strong attraction to this North Jutland vasalry is linked to that Anders Nielsen and his descendants became 100 % Jutland lords and were among the richest. Anders Nielsen owned besides Asdal, Kokkedal and Højriis 2 smaller Jutland manors plus the zealand manor Vinstrup. It is a proof of his good reputation that he in 1486 during king Hans's stay in Norway was among three leaders of the government in Jutland -  he died the same year. His only son Erik Andersen Banner had died a few years before, but his widow Karen Gjøe wrote herself in 1480-88 of Asdal. With their son Erik Eriksen Banner the family came up in the top plan of society.

Kalø castle ruin, foto GB

Gustav Vasa

Erik Eriksen Banner was a vasal at Kalø and kept it in 40 years till his death in 1554. He was exposed to a costy accident since Gustav Vasa who was a prisoner at Kalø escaped him in 1519. Christiern II sentenced Erik Eriksen to a fine of 1.600 gylden,a giant sum of money. There was however no animosity between the king and his vasal, and Erik Eriksen did not take part in the rebellion against the king, but when he was directly and personally threatened, he joined Frederik I. His good reputation was  not hurt by having joined the displaced king for so long -  he now became a rigsråd. It was strange that he was one of few noblemen who was in favor of the new religious movement in Denmark, he let a Luther-minded priest call to Thorsager kirke which was Kalø's parish church . When Frederik I died, Erik Eriksen was in favor of hertug Christian to become Danish king, and when the Skipper Clement feud broke out he was firmly against it. When the revolt was crushed at Aalborg, Erik Eriksen Banner was together with Johan Rantzau commander of hertug Christian's troops. His quiet performance of various administrative jobs in the rebellious districts contributed to calm the mood of people.


* It was said that Erik Eriksen Banner helped Gustav Vasa to escape, and if this is true then Sweden has got something to thank Erik Eriksen Banner for.

Asdal voldsted,

wikipedia

After Christian III was elected king, Erik Banner's succes was safe. He was connected to the king and achieved in 1541 the title of rigsmarsk and he was attending several of Christian III's travels, like the the meeting at Brømsebro with Gustav Vasa. It must have been strange for Erik Banner to stand face to face with the man who had once been his prisoner. In his latest years Erik Banner wrote himself most often of Asdal, his son Frands seems to have taken over Kokkedal while his father lived. Erik Banner died in 1554, ca. 70 years of age at Kalø, which more than anything else had formed a frame around his life. He was buried in Torslev kirke, the parish church of Kokkedal. It was said about Erik Banner that he was one of the most important and influental noblemen in the reformation period in Denmark,  but none of his children inherited his abilities. His estate was shared among his heirs, and Asdal with Bangsbo came to his son Otte, who from 1560 was a vasal of Sejlstrup, he was mostly known for his marriage to Ingeborg Skeel of Voergaard. She kept the vasalry after her husband's death 1585.

Fru Ingeborg Skeel was more than anyone else a personality in the legends from Vendsyssel, not because of her virtues - often usual legends from other places (called vandresagn = wandering legends)  who were localised to Voergaard (and never to Asdal)  where she had the main role in the legends. Her authority must have been stronger than that of other noble ladies, like her economic sense and energy .She had a fine cattle herd at Voergaard, she traded in grain and bricks and she let her people be merchants and trade on markets etc. She kept her churches in good condition and she had in general a good relation with the Clergy.  

Otte Banner and fru Ingeborg had no children. Otte Banner wished to give Asdal to his brother Anders Banner's sons with Dorthe Rud, but he claimed that the king had to make the gift unshakeable. The king accepted this, but it was however Otte's sister Karen who after Ingeborg Skeels death in 1604 and after long and complicated judicial feuds became the owner of Asdal. Karen Banner died in 1611, and Asdal had a troubled destiny in the next years. Several aristocrats had part in it.

Specification:
Above mentioned Anders Nielsen Banner's daughter Anne Andersdatter Banner (+ latest 1490) , who was married to Jens Due Thott of Egholm (Voldborg herred) had inherited a sister-part in A., which she according to a thing's witness in 1492 gave to her brother's children. Among these rigsråd and rigsmarsk Erik Eriksen Banner (+ 1554) inherited Asdal manor and estate, which later came to his son Otte Eriksen Banner, married in 1560 to Ingeborg Skeel of Voergård, who after his death in 1585 kept Asdal until her death in 1604, since Otte Banner before his death had conveyed manor and estate to his family, but in a way so fru Ingeborg kept the estate or a part of it as fief for the rest of her life. Two brother-sons, Erik Andersen Banner of Gjessingholm (+ 1597) and Otte Andersen Banner of Studstrup (Rinds herred) (+ 1625), inherited Asdal, to which the first mentioned wrote himself in 1595, while Otte Banner's sisters Berete Banner (+ 1592), married to Knud Bille of Lindved (+ 1592), Magdalene Banner (+ 1597), widow after Iver Krabbe of Krabbesholm (+ 1561), and Karen Banner of Høgholt, widow after Gregers Trudsen Ulfstand of Gl. Estrup etc. (+ 1582), achieved a part of the spread estate. Later owners of Asdal: the families Ulfstand, Podebusk, Rantzau, Skeel, etc. The owner in 1935 and still in 1959 was Jens Andreasen from Guldager (Vrejlev sogn). And else various owners up til present.
Owner from 1989: Jens Peter Lemmergaard Lunden 

Legend:
In a glass box above the main entrance of Asdal Hovedgaard are the rests of a very old ham-bone from a pig. The ham-bone is said to be over 400 years old - and caused by its durability and strength it has supernatural powers, which will be transferred to the house where it is kept. If the ham is removed strange things will happen at Asdal.

Some hundred years ago the pigs eat mast in the beech- and oak woods. The lands of Asdal Hovedgård and Odden were adjacent. In the hunting a pig was shot and the owners of Asdal Hovedgård and Odden disagreed about to whom the pig belonged. The disputes lead to a lawsuit and the outcome was that the owners of Asdal and Odden had to divide the pig lengthwise. The bacon-sides had to be hang up on the wall in the two manors - and he who was able to keep the ham fresh for the longest period was the true owner of the pig. The ham is still at Asdal, but it has disappeared at Odden.

Asdal voldsted, foto GB

Asdal voldsted, foto GB

Next to the farm buildings of Asdal Hovedgård is the large Asdal Voldsted, which consists of a square about 11 m high castle bank ( 63 x 37 m) surrounded by moats, still partly water-filled. The access to the castle bank was from the south, probably via a bridge. At the castle bank was a three-winged building complex, there are still rests of buildings at the top. In 1662 were two houses in two storeys and one half-timbered house in one storey. In 1769 the castle yard had two houses, one two storey, the other three storey high, one of these houses (named Brunhuset) was said to have been one storey higher. According to tradition there were two huge towers( Vagttårnet and Brandtårnet) on the northern wing's two sides, the rests of these were said to be gunned down in the war 1807-14. Brickworks have been found.

Asdal church, foto GB

Asdal Church, ab. 12 km north of Hjørring

The small white-washed church is situated in a desolate place southeast of Asdal Hovedgård (manor). Asdal church was from the beginning only a chapel for Asdal manor. The parish was earlier named "Asdal Kapels sogn" and Niels Persøn is mentioned in 1476 as a curate at Asdal. The church is a late Gothic longhouse building from the last half of the 1400s with a half-timbered porch to the north, probably from the 1700s. The Gothic building is built in monk bricks mixed with a few granite stones. In the north wall inside is a broad point arched glare, possibly a bricked-up archade for a later broken down sacristy or burial vault. The ceiling in the undivided room is dressed in boards. The little pretty porch has black tarred half-timbering.

Asdal church, foto GB.

Some figures from an earlier late Gothic altar piece and a crucifix-group is given to the National Museum in Copenhagen. The altar piece is a Lutheranian triptychon from ab. 1575 with a painting from ab. 1700. A chalice from the 1700s. Late Gothic ore-candelabres from ab. 1550 with the coat of arms of Banner. A late which probably belonged to the church was found at Asdal Voldsted (castle bank). It is now at the National Museum. A Romanesque granite font with a hemispherical basin and a truncated crone-foot with line ornaments. A south German baptismal bowl, ab. 1575. The pulpit is a fine Renaissance joinery from 1578, given by Otto Banner of Asdal and wife Inge(Ingeborg) Skeel with their paternal and maternal coat of arms, restored in 1905. Pews from the same period and manor-pews with the same coat of arms. A church bell from 1627 cast by Hans Kemmer with Fr. Rantzau's name. In the choir a marble epitaph for Christen Speitzer Follerup, +1789. 5 gravestones from the 1600s and 1700s, one is a trapez-shaped bondegravsten (peasant) in granit for ("wife MGD died 1800").

Listed prehistorics: 3 hills, i.e. the high placed Hellehøj; one is possibly the rest of a stone grave.
Demolished or destroyed: 13 hills, all in the southern hilly part of the parish. At Rugtved is found a burial site with stone graves from early Roman Iron Age, and upon the low terrain close to the border of Uggerby was found a settlement with fields from Celtic Iron Age. From Stejlbjerg is a finding with 3 guldbrakteater (gold plates) and 18 glass pearls.

Names in the Middle Ages and 1600s:
Asdal (1393 Asedal); Skovsgårde (1638 Schouffgaard); Rækær ( 1662 Rikier, 1688 Ree Kier); Skoven ( 1688 Schoufven); Heden (1688 Heeden); Puthede (1662 Putheede); Mosen (1688 Mossen); Kjul (1419 Kyle Mølle, 1662 Nør Kiil, Sønder Kiil, 1688 Nør-Sønderkyfvel); Stejlbjerg
(1662 Steilberig); Rugtved (1688 Routued); Hulskov ( 662 Halschou, 1688 Houl Schouf); Rynken (1688 Røncken ) ; Gravholt (1688 Graufverholtz Huus.).

Source:
Trap Danmark, Hjørring amt, 1960; Danske slotte og herregårde, bd. 10, Vendsyssel