Janderup church / Janderup kirke, Vester Horne herred, Ribe amt.

   
Janderup Church, ab. 10 km west of Varde
Janderup sogn, Vester Horne herred, Ribe amt.

The whitewashed church in Janderup has a desolate place at Varde Å. (river). It is a large village church with a choir and with an added sacristy, nave and tower to the west.  The church had earlier two porches; both are removed, and the tower room now functions as a hall with a new entrance in the north wall. The earliest Romanesque sections, the choir and nave, are mostly granite, above this tufa, upon a profiled double plinth.  Several Romanesque windows are kept, all walled-in. Both doors of the nave are walled-in with smooth frames. In the north door is an old door wing with a Gothic marked furniture. The additions are from the late Middle Ages and built in monk bricks: a cross-vaulted sacristy to the north and a large tower to the west. The inside is over-vaulted with one bay in the choir and three bays octagonal rib-vaults in the nave, and the Romanesque choir-arch  is kept with finely profiled kragsten.  A frescoe decoration from the beginning of the 1500s was brought to light in 1936.

Upon the bricked communion table with a Renaissance front panel from the end of the 1500s stands a large altar piece, given in 1645 by slotsskriver at Riberhus and owner of  St. Hebo, Peder Byrgesen and wife, whose carved names are on the side wings. At the entrance to the sacristy is an old door wing with 1700s'
paintings. In the sacristy is an old well-kept confessional from ab. 1730 with kneeler and baluster-rail. Rests of medieval wooden sculptures from the disappeared side altars are now in the door-niches of the nave: a Madonna from 1532 and a contemporary bishop-figure. Romanesque granite font, above this a carved sounding board (earlier shown year 1652). Above the choir arch a crucifix from the 1300s. The parish clerk stool has a carved year 1603. The pulpit is a rich Renaissance-work from ab. 1600 with Corinthic baluster-pillars and 1700s' paintings and a contemporary sounding board.  The pews have gables in early Renaissance, upon the upper gables an inscription that these  "skamler" (stools) were bought in 1575 by Simon Christensen of St. Hebo. A Rococo-organ is given in 1774 by Mads Rygaard of St. Hebo, placed upon a gallery with painted apostle-figures in the fields.  A chandelier in the choir was given by the above mentioned  Simon Christensen; besides two  newer chandeliers given in 1911. Church ship: war ship "De Ammeral", given by parish priest Niels Sehested 1776. In the tower room several head-stones from 1600s and 1700s. Upon the church yard a grave with  Jens Jensen of Janderup, (+ 1647), 126 years of age! North of the church yard an old red brick-building, named  "Kirkehuset". (The Church House)  


Store Hebo was a freeholders-farm, it belonged to Anders Nielsen (+ 1602), his widow Marine (+ 1629) and son Niels Andersen in Varde, whose widow Anne Nielsdatter died 1659. Their son Niels Nielsen of St.H. (+ 1667) was married to Lisbeth Pedersdatter Hebo (+ 1703), who in 1686 conveyed her inheritance-rights  of the farm to her son-in-law Hans Nielsen Kjær (+ 1709), who was priest in Ål. (parish) In 1718 the farm belonged to Simon Christensen (+ 1732), whose widow Mette Marie Joensdatter 1733 married Poul Borreby (later priest in  Gudum, + 1748). In the exchange after him in 1749 the farm was taken over by his widow Gertrud Marie Madsdatter, who the same year was married to I.J. Jelstrup (later of Kokkedal). In 1778 it belonged to  Mads Rygaard (+ 1791), whose widow in 1792 married  fuldmægtig at Hesselmed, Byrge Qvist, after whose death in 1825 it came to his son-in-law J.Chr. Westesen  (+ 1841). Later owners: Thøger R. Teilmann, H.F.Ulriksen.

The brick-built white-washed main building from 1798 is a fine and well-kept witness of the building traditions of West Jutland. 

Janderup was in the old times a place of disembarkation for the town of Varde, since the river was not navigable that far up. Varde town had in 1640 from the Crown first refusal on a farm at the church (later the inn). In 1680 was a custom house for a short time at Janderup. Although the shipping place was officially abandoned in 1692, it was used up till the late 1800s. At the inn ("Skipperhuset") was a ferry across Varde Å-river until 1910. In the 1600s. had (acc. to. Pont. Atlas) the merchant ships from Varde their winter place at Janderup church.

In Hyllerslev Enge at Varde Å-river lies a castle bank Elkærhøj, an oblong bank, surrounded by a moat and a outer dam, which to the south and southeast broadens into large flat areas, probably a front-castle. Outside seems to have been another moat. In the late 1800s. were at the castle bank found rests of a timbered building.

In the parish was the farm Vig (1486 Wiigh, 1487 Wyghe, 1606 Wieg.) Chrf. Hvas of Hennegård founded in 1639 the main farm Søviggård in Ovtrup parish by this and Søgård in Ovtrup parish.

Listed prehistorics: 24 hills. Large, but damaged by dikes and ditches is a hill north of Nr. Hebo.
Destroyed or demolished: 79 hills; large groups were at Janderup hede, Kærup hede and north of St. Hebo. Already Pont. Atlas mentioned that at an excavation of the hills in the parish were found stone axes, stone knives and bronze-rings.

Names in the Middle Ages and 1600s.:
Janderup (1295 Jamthorp); Hyllerslev (1391 Hyllesløøf); Kærup (1471 Keerorpp, Keerurp); Strudvad (1606 Struduad); Bandsbjerg (1404 Bansberig), Sdr. Hebo (1638 Sønder Hebo), Nr. Hebo (1638 Nør Hebo); Grydvad Ml. (1606 Gryduad Mølle);  St. Hebo (1503 Hiebo, 1664 Stoer Hieeboe).

Source: Trap Danmark, Ribe amt 1965.
photo Janderup kirke 2003: grethe bachmann

Billum church / Billum kirke, Vester Horne herred, Ribe amt.

Billum church, ab.10 km west of Varde
Billum sogn, Vester Horne herred, Ribe amt.
 
The white-chalked Billum church with leaden roof has a richly furnished apse, choir and nave and a later added sacristy, porch and tower. It was in its original look a fine example of the Ribe-district's tufa-stone churches.  The Romanesque core, which is the apse, the choir and the nave, is built upon a granite-plinth, while the tufa-walls are parted in reliefs and round-arch friezes, but they were somewhat renewed with bricks in a restore in 1880. A walled-in window is above the door of the sacristy, all other windows in Romanesque shape seem to be placed in their original place, but they have all been re-newed. Both doors of the nave are kept, the north door is walled-in, the south door is still in use. The added buildings are all from the late Middle Ages and built in monk bricks. The sacristy has a cross-vault, the tower has smooth gables, while the bottom tower room has a cross-vault and opens to the nave in a high, narrow arcade. The inside of the church is unusually high, it has beamed ceilings in choir and nave, while the apse has a half-cupola vault - the choir was earlier cross-vaulted. The Romanesque choir arch is preserved with profiled kragbånd.


 





The communion table is built in tufa-stone, upon this lies a granite-plate with a reliquary. The altar piece is a Renaissance-carved work, undoubtedly from the beginning of the 1600s, built into one large piece, divided into three parts with Tuscany pillars, sidewings and a top-piece, divided into two parts. In the fields are placed the original paintings (in 1965) . A Romanesque granite font and a south German baptismal bowl from ab. 1575. The pulpit, carved year 1634, is decorated with Ionian pillars as a frame around arcade-fields with relief-carved images of the four Evangelists. At one of the gables of the pews is carved "Elin Gødis 1581". The church owns a medieval wooden sculpture. Furthermore rests of a Mary-altar. In the Mary-figure was in 1918 found 19 coins from Chr. II's and king Hans' rule - they are now in the National Museum. Finally a late medival altar cupboard. In the sacristy a priest- or confessional-stool, similar to the stool in Janderup church and a small series pastorum 1750. The bell with minuskel-inscription is from 1432, cast by master Peter Jensøn on request of the parish priest hr. Jacob. In a restore in 1956 all the inventory was cleansed and painted, and the tower was face-walled. In 1954 was brought to light a medieval painted frieze with coat of arms.




Billumgård was in 1580 a noble-farm, which belonged to Knud Henriksen. In 1635 Otte Kruse's widow fru Sophie Staverskov exchanged it to Ribe chapter. In 1722 the king conveyed it to Peder Endorph at Hennegård.

In Kelst plantation is seen a cross of turf in the heather, the cross-arms are 4,7 m long and 1,6 m broad, here was once a church, Højbjerg church; a lime-tree is plant in the middle of the cross.
In Klokkepyt north of Billum was Billum church bell said to be cast.

In Billum church were in 1954-55 found 88 coins spread, of which 39 Danish coins from Valdemar II till Frederik VIII.

In a digging at a farm in Tarp were in 1818 found 22, mostly German speciedalers, and many little coins (last year 1642).

Listed prehistorics: 6 hills, of which 4 in a group at Billum heath north of the village.
Destroyed or demolished: 16 hills.

A small tuft burial-site from Celtic Iron Age is known from the parish.

Names from the Middle Ages and 1600s:
Billum (1324 Bælium) ; Tarp (1342 Belium thorp, 1486 Tarp, 1494 Torp); Hannevang (1291 Hanærwangh); Billumgård (1638 Billomgaard); Kærgård (1661 Wed Kier, 1688 Kiern boell).

Source: Trap Danmark, Ribe amt, 1965. 
photo Billum church 2003: grethe bachmann

Brejninggård and Brejning church / Brejning kirke, Bølling herred, Ringkøbing amt.

 















The eastern wing of Brejninggård, built ab. 1580 by the nobleman Hans Lange, is one of the prettiest manor buildings in Denmark. The gate-wing displays a unique terra-cotta decoration in the facade. Brejninggård is now furnished into a high school , but there is public access to the yard and the garden.

Modern wings were built in 1942 and 1958 by the competent architect Helge Holm, and they suit the original Renaissance-plan well. The whole building is white-washed with red tiled roofs. The unique terracotta decoration on the east wing is the largest attraction of this manor. Brejninggård represents the original Italian ideal with a main emphasis on the decoration instead of the fortification which is seen in other manors. The facade shows some similarity to the manor Vorgård in North Jutland and the famous garden-house Pirkentavl at Rosenholm manor on Djursland. The ideal of Brejninggård might be the terracotta-ornamented North German city-houses. In Mecklenburg is a terracotta-decoration at the castle Gadebusch, built ab. 1570, which shows a similarity to Brejninggård.

The main building is listed in class A. Its terracotta-decoration makes it unique in the architectural history of Denmark, but it has been strangely neglected by contemporary architecture-historians.

Brejninggård belonged before the reformation to Ribe bishopric and was in 1457 and 1464 endowed to væbner Laurids Rød. In 1536 it came to the Crown, which in 1537 pawned it to Johan Stage, but in 1544 sold it to Gunde Lange (+ 1564). After this it belonged to the son Hans Lange of Kærgård (+1609), whose sons Tyge and Gunde Lange owned it together, until Tyge Lange died unmarried in 1614. In 1646 Gunde Lange of Kølbygård sold it to his brother Peder Lange of Kærgård (+ 1661), whose son Jørgen Lange in 1661 conveyed it to his wife-to-be jomfru Dorthe Galde. In 1665 it belonged to her brother-in-law Knud Skinkel ( + childless 1669), whose brother Morten Skinkel (+ childless 1679) took over the farm, which by his widow Helle Urne of Estvadgård (+ 1688) in an exchange 1682 came to his paternal aunt jomfru Ide Skinkel, who in 1683 transferred it to colonel Laurids Munk of Merløsegård (+ 1702). His widow Barbara Hedevig v. Dragsted ( + 1709) conveyed it in 1708 to Chr.Ulrich Schultz of Viumgård (+ 1709), whose son-in-law Steffen Nielsen of Endrupholm ( 1719 ennobled with the name Ehrenfeldt) in 1718 conveyed it to his sister's son Johannes Müller of Lunderup, who sold it at an auction in 1726 to Chr. Siegfried Enholm (later of Marsvinslund, + 1769). He sold it in 1754 to ritmester Hans Nicolai Hoff (later of Silkeborg, + 1806), who in 1760 conveyed it to baron Chr. Fr. Juul of Rysensteen, who lived at the farm, but in 1771 sold it to amtmand Peter de Albertin of Slumstrup, (+ 1779), whose widow Cathrine Kirstine Folsach owned it until her death 1812. ( she sold much of the property in 1794).

Later owners: Chr. H. Bonne, N. Nyholm of Haraldskær, H.S. and N.H. Frandsen, H.S. Albrechtsen, Statens Jordlovsudvalg ( outparcelling); School in main building since 1942 .

A Swan-family in the yard at Brejninggård

Brejning church
The large Brejning church has a choir with a three-winged finish, a nave and tower to the west and a porch at the north door. The center in the very mixed-together building are the sidewings of the choir and the nave, built in the Romanesque period in granite ashlars. In the long walls of the nave is a round-arched Romanesque window. The north-door is preserved, while each trace of the south door has vanished. In the late Middle Ages was the porch built with very heavy wealls in monk bricks. The broad tower is also from late Gothic period, built in re-used ashlars at the bottom and monk bricks above; it is best preserved at the north side, while the other sides are face-walled in ab. 1759. The bottom tower room is vaulted and opens in an arcade to the nave. The choir was rebuilt in the Renaissance-period, probably in 1581, since this year and the names Hans Lange and Johanne Schram and their coat of arms are written on clay tablets in the eastern wall. At the same time the old Romanesque triumph-wall disappeared between nave and choir, and the church was now in one room with a beamed ceiling.

Upon the bricked communion table stands an altar piece from ab. 1600-1610, painted 1876, now restored like the other wood-work in 1931. The altar-candelabres from ab. 1700. A Romanesque font with a rope-winded bulb. A large brass bowl from 1700. A large late Gothic choir-arch crucifix. The pulpit at the north side is from the beginning of the 1600s, in Renaissance, but with decorations from 1698. The manor-stools are from the end of the 1500s and has the names and coat of arms of Hans Lange and Johanne Schram. A confessional with grating and the year 1647, decorated in 1698. The upper pews have a front-panel with apostel-paintings, they origin from a gallery, which was earlier in the church. Portrait painting of Chr. Ulrich Schultz of Brejninggård and his wife and children. In a restoration in 1960-61 were found medieval coins, from Erik Menved to up til Chr. X.  

Listed prehistorics: Two passage graves, a longhill and 58 hills. One of the passage graves at Rudmose has a chamber with 10 supporting stones, but no cover stone; the other southeast of Brejninggård has 8 supporting stones and 44 edge stones, and it brought several finds, especially ceramics. Some of the hills are rather large, like Krathøj, just east of Krattet, 3 of 4 Ravnsbjerghøje, which are placed at the parish-border to Nr. Omme, and a hill southeast of Brejninggård.
Demolished or destroyed: one passage grave, a long dolmen and 133 hills.

A petroglyph-stone was found with a wheel-cross at Brejning. A settlement from early Roman Iron Age is known from Spjald.

Source: Trap Danmark, Ringkøbing amt, 1965.
photo June 2003: grethe bachmann