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

Tørring Church ab. 6 km west of Lemvig
Tørring sogn, Skodborg herred, Ringkøbing amt.

The high-placed church in Tørring has a Romanesque choir and nave with a late Gothic tower to the west. The Romanesque building is built in granite ashlar with double plinth. Both doors are bricked-up, besides are two bricked-up windows, one in the south wall of the nave, another in the choir to the north. In the south wall of the choir is a low-placed "spedalskhedsvindue"(leprosy-window) formed by two monolit cover stones. In the south wall of the nave are besides several ashlars with stone mason fields a stone with a pretty engraved cross. The original choir arch has profiled kragbånd. The nave has a beamed ceiling, and in the choir was built a cross vault in the late Gothic period. The late Gothic tower is built in monk bricks, re-used ashlars and granite boulders; it has a cross vaulted bottom room, which is furnished as a porch, since the pointed tower arch is out-walled with a door. A very low flat-curved door in the northeast corner of the room leads to the stair tower. The walls of the tower are mostly face walled, but the north gable still stands with six cut højblændinger(blænding = drawn-back area) and visible foot timber. At the reformation was in the north side of the nave inserted large flat-curved windows while the south side are from the late 1800s, when the gable top of the choir was re-walled in small bricks.



The communion table is covered in a panel from the middle of the 1600s with portal fields and baluster profiled pilasters. The altar piece is a simple Renaissance triptychon from 1601, given by Ove Lykke. It has paintings from 1673 in the wings. In the large field is a simple painting from ab. 1850 and in the top field a painting from 1814. A Baroque chalice from ab.1675, a Viborg-work by Peder Rasmussen. Heavy Baroque candelabres ab. 1650. A Romanesque granite font in West Jutland sepal-type. A small south German bowl ab. 1550-75 . A pulpit in Renaissance, ab. 1625, with volut pillars and portal fields, where in 1922 were painted copies of the Evangelispictures from the pulpit in Bøvling Church. Bell from 1506 with a long minuskelinscription in Latin, which mentions John the Baptist who is the saint of the church. It was probably cast by Peter Hansen. In the foot wall of the tower are two Romanesque granite grave stones and in the tower room two worn-out 1700s grave stones.



Vadskærgård belonged in the 1300s to Christiern Nielsen, who sold it to Jep Olsen Lunge. Later it belonged to Niels Friis, who is mentioned 1522, his son Godske Friis 1540-84 and his son Jørgen F. inherited the farm and bought likewise more estate for it, before he died unmarried 1661. It then went to his brothers' sons Otte Friis of Astrup and Mogens Friis, who later founded Frijsenborg and in 1662 bought Otte's halfpart of V. and some estate. In 1663 he exchanged the farm to rigsadmiral Ove Gjedde's heirs, of whom the son amtmand Knud Giedde (later of Hastrup, + 1707) became the sole owner. Later owners: Lange, Gjerum Holm, Levetzau, Dahl, Vadum, Gleerup, Andrup, Nyboe, Agger. Outparcelled by Jordlovsudvalget in the 1950s. Main parcel was owned by A. Lindemann and F. Lind Pedersen. The main building was built in 1860 by J.C. Agger.

In 1497 Søren Stygge of Søgård at Holmsland gave his rights in his farm "Sø" in Tørring sogn (parish) to Gudum kloster. In 1499 it was owned by Erik Ottesen Rosenkrantz of Boller. in1770 it was under Vadskærgård.

The main farm Sø was situated at the eastern section of Hornsø, where is seen an oblong rise just at the foot of the slope. When building a border dike here were found granite boulders and monk bricks, and at the edge of the lake found oak posts. The visible traces on the spot does not tell anything about the disappeared plan's character. A little east of this was a water-mill.

Upon a field at Halgård was according to Resens Atlas found a sacred well, Hr. Rafns Kild.

In a hill, named "Trollehøy" at Gjellerø (now Gjeller Odde) was said to be found in ab. 1600 a large bunch of "lædermønter" (leather coins) and gold coins.

From disappeared farms in the parish is Stjerneborg (1581 Sternborg); Brandsgård (1642 Brandtzgaard), Sig (1664 Siig); Gamsmark ( 1664 Gamsmarck) and Bremsløv (1664 Bremszløff). Furthermore the house Kneberholm (1688 Kneberholms Huusz). Underbjerg was also earlier named Tørringbjerg (1595 Under Thøringbierigh).


The railway Vemb-Lemvig-Thyborøn runs through the parish

A railway station named Victoria Street Station

Names in the Middle Ages and 1600s:
Tørring ( 1330-48 Tiringh, 1482 Tøring); Balleby ( 1523 Bolliby, 1595 Balbye); Gransgårde (1595 Grandtzbøll, 1664 Granndtzgaard); Underbjerg ( 1642 Under bierig); Lomforbæk (1595 Lombforbeck); Søgårde ( * 1462 Søegaardtz jordt); Kokholm (1547 Kockholm); Kallesø (* 1499 Kalsøø, 1558 Kallidsøe); Vadskærgård ( * ab. 1400 Vaseker, Vasekær, 1531 Waskiergaard, Weskergord); Lykkesgård (1628 Lyckisgaard); Ager (1638 Auer); Halegård (1638 Halgaard); Eskebæk (1638 Eskibeck); Nørkær (1638 Ved Kiær); Sejbjerg (1638 Seibiere); Lindskrog (1664 Lindz Krog); Stor (1664 Stoer); Veje (1614 Veye); Poldbjerg (1604 Pølborrig, 1688 Polborre boell); Bæksgård (1638 Begsgaard); Lovmandsgård ( 1549 Mattis Laamannds gaardt, 1638 Loumandsgaard); Hummersgård (1549 Las Hommers gårde,1638 Hummersgaardt).

Listed prehistorics: 18 hills, mainly on the hills north and east of Tørring Church, partly east and southeast of Kokholm. Several are rather large, like: 3 hills, i.e. Bavnehøj north of the church, Kløvenhøj at Kokholm and 3 hills west of Kallesø.
Demolished or destroyed: 27 hills. - In the small moor Sortkær southeast of Kallesø was found a clay vessel with 1800 amber pearls from the beginning of late Stone Age. In a hill at Nr. Kokholm was found a very rich grave from early Bronze Age, with sword and skaftehulsøkse ( axe) in bronze.

Source: Trap Danmark, Ringkøbing amt,1965.


photo Tørring kirke/ Thyborøn jernbane 2003: 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

Lønborg church /Lønborg kirke, Nørre Horne herred, Ringkøbing amt.

Kongskirken (the King's church) in Lønborg was inaugurated to the Danish kongehelgen St. Knud - and it must have been built on Royal order once in the 1100s. It is placed high upon a hill with a magnificent view to Skjern Ådal (river valley) and the west delta to Ringkøbing Fjord. The choir and nave is Romanesque, while tower, porch and sacristy are late Gothic additions, but the south side is completely re-walled ab. 1804. The porch and tower are built in monk bricks late in the 1400s -and the later sacristy is built in re-used granite ashlars. Both doors are preserved , the northern women's door is walled-in. The original men's door is now the entrance to the church room from the porch. Two Romanesque windows are in use in the nave, while a similar window in the choir gable is bricked-up.


The granite communion table is covered in a pine panel from the end of the 1500s. The altarpiece is Renaissance and has a Holy-Communion painting in the big field, dated 1668. In the 1900th century rests of a Catholic triptychon were found in the middle section. Small Gothic altar candlesticks with animal paws. The Romanesque granite font has rope decorations with leaves. In the choir is a peculiar parish clerk chair in carved oak, decorated with a pig playing a bagpipe. In the sacristy is the original baptismal copper dish from the 1600s with a rosette in the bottom. The pretty pulpit is an excellent woodcarver work in Gothic-Renaissance from the end of the 1500s. It is similar to pulpits in Sønder Bork Church etc. The sounding board has the year 1605 with the coat of arms of Munk-Lange, Gersdorff and Gyldenstierne, referring to Else Munk and Kristoffer Gersdorff, who was a vasal at kongsgården Lønborggård.

The whole church is vaulted probably shortly before 1487 according to a Latin inscription. The present decorations were restored in 1992. They are Renaissance frescoes from the middle of the 1500s. Doomsday has got a special place in the north section. In long rows the diseased - dressed in contemporary clothes - are walking to the saving Heaven's Gate, while the sinners are punished and the devils are blowing in alphorns.


Lønborg church upon the hill at Skjern Å (river) with a grand view over the large river landscape and the delta at Ringkøbing Fjord with Holmsland Klit far away to the west. The church yard is partly surrounded by big trees along the dike. In the southern walled church yard gate is a cattle grating.

Skjern Aa

Names in the Middle ages and 1600s:
Lønborg (* ab. 1140 Løneburg, * 1231 Lønæburgh); Vostrup (1610 Wostrup); Lavstrup (1688 Laustrupbye); Fjerbæk (1610 Fierbeck); Nr. Bøel (* 1298 Bøle), Sdr. Bøel ( * 1298 Bøle); Kyvling ( ab. 1300 Kyfling(h); Styg ( 1489 Stygh); Lønborggård * 1595 Lønboriggaard); Varisbøl (1688 Warispill).

Lønborggård belonged in the Catholic time to Ribe bishopric and is often named Lønborg Bishop's Manor. It seems that in the end of the 1400s it was endowed to bishop Hartvig Juel's sister Johanne, married to Christian Steen whose son Erik Steen was a vasal there in 1502. In 1511 it came to Eiler Bryske and in 1533 to Christen Fasti of Vennergård. In his time the manor was plundered by Skipper Clement's peasant army. After the reformation Lønborggård was taken by the Crown , and hereafter various administrators and owners.

At Lønborggård was earlier a salmon-farm which was abolished in the 1800s.

West of the church was a Kongsgård (King's Manor) which is already mentioned in Valdemars Jordebog as Lønæburgh from where Erik Glipping 1278 issued letters. Upon a map from a priest-report 1638 is sketched "Borigvold" (Castlebank) at Lønborg Bjerg west of the church. The name is preserved in Lønborg village, but the original farm was destroyed in the war 1638, and the fields later came to Lønborggård.

At Lønborg east of the church was according to a priest-report 1639 a sacred well, Skt. Knuds Kilde, which was visited by many people during the Middle Ages.

After a witch-process in 1683 a woman was burnt at Vostrup Hede.

When digging at Nørregård, Bøel were in 1902 found 8 Danish-Norwegian sletdalere (1653-79), 3 Netherland gylden (1628-72) and 4 silver rings.

Listed prehistorics: 30 hills and 3 small longhills, these are together with another large hill and 4 lesser hills in a group in the southern section of Lønborgårds heath. In Lønborggårds plantation is a large hill Annebjerg, to the south another large hill, where once was a larger group of hills.
Demolished or destroyed: 19 hills. - From Lønborggård is known an urn grave site from Celtic Iron Age, and jordfæstegravpladser (interment) from early Iron Age are known from Styg (early Roman period) and west of the church.( late Roman period).

Lønborg and Egvad sogn(parish) were once divided, but was united in 1594. The priest in Lønborg applied in 1631 and several times later for that he wanted to live in Egvad, since "Lønborg Præstegårds Jorder grænse til Fjorden, så at de tit lide Skade og Kvæget drukner"
(the land of vicarage bordered to the fjord, which caused damage and the cattle drowned), but this wasn't granted. Since 1929 Lønborg has its own parish.

Sources: Trap Danmark, Ringkøbing amt, 1965; Niels Peter Stilling, Danmarks kirker; 2000; Axel Bolvig, Danmarks kalkmalerier, 2002.

Lønborg church seen from the delta


One of two centers with exhibitions of the flora and fauna at Skjern Å.

Exhibition Naturplan

Nationalpark Skjern Å

photo 2005 and 2006: grethe bachmann

Nørre Bork church/ Nørre Bork kirke, Nørre Horne herred, Ringkøbing amt.

Nørre Bork Church, ab. 27 km south of Ringkøbing
Nørre Bork sogn, Nørre Horne herred, Ringkøbing amt

The small church has a Romanesque choir and nave with a Late Gothic porch and tower. The original walls are built in large granite ashlars. Upon the loft are the original field stone gables. Two original windows are preserved in the wall of the nave and one in the wall of the choir, all with monolite cover stones. The south door is in use, while the similar north door is walled in with a profile-carved cover stone. An almost similar priest's door is below the windows of the choir. The original choir arch has kragbånd (oblong relief stones.)

Inside the choir has a Late Gothic cross vault with trefoil ribs, the nave has a flat beamed ceiling. In the communion table ,which is covered in a Renaissance panel, was once found a gilt copper box with a reliquary, which was said to be a thumb-bone of St. Anna. The altar piece and the pulpit with a sounding board are also Renaissance from ab. 1600 and probably made by the same master as the panel of the communion table. richly profiled altar candelabres from ab. 1600. The Romanesque granite font is the West Jutland smooth basin type like in Sønder Bork Church. The brass baptismal dish is South German from ab. 1550-75. A pewter baptismal jar by the Boizenburg-master F.H. Thiessen 1812. The pews are southwest Jutland Renaissance and a gable has the year 1575 below initials "IP". In the topmost part of the church are some manor-pews with the year 1652 and the paternal and maternal coat of arms of Jacob Grubbe and Ingeborg Kruse. Furthermore is an iron cast money block in the church. Bell cast by Meilstrup, Randers 1865.


The church yard is fenced in earth-covered dikes with kvægrist ( cattle grate) and svingel (swingle) at the west and south gate. At the south gate is also a driving gate.

Names in the Middle Ages and 1600s:
Nørre Bork (1310 Nørbork); Sønderby (1597 Sønderbye); Magårde (1610 Maygaard); Grubbesholm (1688 Grubbisholm ).

Nørkærgård (1610 Nørkiergaard) was still in 1638 a peasant-farm, but in 1645 a main farm, belonging to Jacob Grubbe, who was said to leave N. caused by a flood and from a part of it established Grubbesholm in 1651. Both farms came after his death in 1655 to his halfbrothers Erik and Niels Kruse, of whom Erik Kruse 1656 outbought Niels from both farms. In 1661 he had to give them up, and Grubbesholm was taken over by archbishop Hans Svane, while Nørkærgård was taken over by landsdommer Willum Lange of Asmildkloster and mag. Hans Rosenberg in Ribe. Later owners Lassen, Hagedorn Brahe, Meiner, Jermiin, Muff and outparcelling.

Jomfru Edel Kaas is in 1589 written to Magård.

There are no known prehistorics in the parish, a small settlement from late Stone Age is known from Nr. Bork.


Bork havn is an idyllic little marina.

Source: Trap Danmark, Ringkøbing amt.


photo Nørre Bork kirke /Bork havn 2003: grethe bachmann

Råsted church / Råsted kirke, Ulfborg herred, Ringkøbing amt.

Råsted Church, ab 12 km southwest of Holstebro
Råsted sogn, Ulfborg herred, Ringkøbing amt.


Råsted church has a Romanesque choir and nave, a tower to the west and a porch to the south, both from the late Middle Ages. The Romanesque building is in granite ashlars ; the original windows are kept at the north side, 2 in the nave and 1 in the choir, all are bricked-up like the north door; the south door is extended. The inside has beamed ceilings, the choir arch with kragsten is very high; The tower and porch are late medieval additons in re-used ashlars and monk bricks. The tower room functions as a tool room; it has an octagonal rib vault and a pointed arch to the nave. The church was restored in 1955.

The communion table is in granite ashlars. The altar piece is in Renaissance-style with pillars and achantus ornamentation. The painting in the middle field and the decoration is from the 1800s. The heavy ore candelabres are given in 1603 by Conr. Husman with his name and coat of arms. A Romanesque granite font in West Jutland-type. A smooth brass baptismal bowl with lid. A pewter baptismal jar from ab. 1850. Pulpit with a sounding board in Renaissance-style, in the arcade fields are painted symbols from the beginning of the 1800s. A parish clerk chair from ab. 1600 with gable from the 1700s and a priest- or Lord of the Manor- chair from the 1700s, both with decorations in Rococo-style. From the other pews are some from 1646, the rest a simple copy from 1846. In the church hangs a small ship rigged as a bark, furthermore an iron bound church coffin .


An example: a new window between two
bricked-up Romanesque windows. What a pity!

Stenumgård was once a main farm, from which one third in 1512 by Niels Lauridsen Skadeland in Odsgård was conveyed to Niels Clementsen of Blæsbjerg. In 1531 and 1545 is mentioned Jacob Vognsen of S., in 1569 and 1585 it belonged to his son Jens V. (+ ab. 1600), in 1601 and 1609 his son Mikkel V. (+ ab. 1620), whose daughters Margrete and Anne Vogsndatter (both later in Karisegård), in 1635 sold it to fru Ide Lange of Nr. Vosborg. with her daughter Susanne Juel (+ 1685) S. came to amtmand Erik Qvitzow of Udstrup, who in 1652 sold it to fru Elsebe Juel of Brusgård, widow after Ove Juul (+ 1644) . From her it came to Christen Linde in 1670. Later owners Friedenreich, Wad, Vejrup, Kirk, Hammer, Filipsen. Owner in 1960: Chr. Torp.

Elsebe Juel , widow after Ove Juul. It is correct that the names have different spelling.
Elsebe Juel's last name is her birth name. Elsebe Juel and Ove Juul belonged to two families.


Back entrance at the church yard.

Øgelstrup was a main farm, which belonged to the family Juel ( star in coat of arms). It was said that it belonged to Palle Juel, who lived ab. 1350, and who together with his siblings owned much estate in Råsted and Idum parish. His great-grandson Palle Juel lived at Udstrup, whereafter Ø. belonged under this farm still in 1661. in 1666 it belonged to bailiff Thomas Andersen Wendtzel, who had bought if from rådmand Morten Mikkelsen's widow Kirsten in Copenhagen. In 1683 was it under Stenumgård. In 1917 outparcelled. Owner of main parcel in 1960: Harry Simonsen.

In 1465 is Niels Juel mentioned in Råsted.

Dorte Juel ,who in the 1300s was married to Christiern Arnestsen Skram, was said to be of Gammel Råsted.In 1485 Predbjørn Clausen Podebusk achieved Gammel Råsted. In 1688 it belonged to Christen Linde of Volstrup.

At Arnsbjerg mark at Lilleå (river) is a sacred well.


Råsted Church in the landscape.

Names in the Middle Ages and 1600s.:
Råsted ( 1330-48 Roosteth); Blæsbjerg * 1514 Blesbierg); Hvolby (* 1457 Holby); Hvoldal (1610 Huoeldael); Knudsig (* 1512 Knudsiig); Øgelstrup (1522 Ygelstrup); V. Femhøj (1610 Fembhuiff); Arnsbjerg (1610 Andsbierg); Gårsdal ( 1492 Garpdall, 1610 Gaardzdael, Garpsdal, 1664 Garsdall) .

In the parish were earlier mentioned the settlements Grandsborg (1610 Grandzborgh), Hummersborg (1664 Hummersborrig), Helsig (1664 Helszig) and Hedehuse (1688 Heedehuse).

Listed prehistorics: 39 hills and two long dolmens. Northeast of Blæsbjerg is a rather large, pretty hill; or else the hills are mostly small. Southwest of the church is a group Femhøje upon a hillside.
Demolished of destroyed: 16 hills.

Source: Trap Danmark, Ringkøbing amt, 1965.


photo Råsted kirke 2003: grethe bachmann