Farm Labourer’s cottage from Englerup

Could a family truly live in such a small space? Here before us at the Open Air Museum stands the Farm Labourer’s cottage from Englerup, a poignant reminder of the harsh realities faced by landless farmworkers in 19th-century Denmark. The Farm Labourer’s cottage from Englerup originally stood near Roskilde on the Ryegaard estate. It tells a story of resilience, resourcefulness, and the stark economic disparities of a bygone era. The cottage, built in the early 1800s, provided shelter for families who owned little to no land. Their livelihoods depended entirely on the meager wages earned through grueling labor on the estate. The cottage’s small size reflects the precarious economic situation of these families. The Open Air Museum acquired the Farm Labourer’s cottage in 1946 and opened it to the public in 1951. One family, Ole and Sophie Larsen, lived in the Farm Labourer’s cottage from the late 1800s into the early 1900s, raising their children, including sons Hans and Nikolaj, within its walls. Sophie, it’s believed, received some furniture from the estate’s mistress as a gift for her long and loyal service, furniture that now furnishes the cottage at the museum. The cottage’s modest exterior of thatched reed mats reflects the simple building materials of the time, offering insulation against the harsh weather while protecting the walls from wear. Initially, the cottage was even smaller, with lower ceilings. The walls were later raised to create more living space, a testament to the family’s ongoing struggle for comfortable living conditions. Stepping inside, you enter directly into the kitchen, situated within the chimney, a typical design for Zealand cottages. This space also served as the main living area, housing the family’s chest for storing clothes and textiles. The small living room doubled as a sleeping area. Imagine a family gathered around the table, sharing their meager meals, or huddled together in the large bed for warmth. A tiny pantry and scullery with a stone floor lie just beyond the living room, showcasing the limited space available for storage and other household activities. Outside, the outbuildings housed a small barn with a threshing floor and a stable barely large enough for a cow, a calf, and a few chickens. Behind the cottage, a small pigsty offered the family a chance to supplement their income. The pigs were raised for both household consumption and sale, representing one of the many side hustles necessary to make ends meet. The Farm Labourer’s cottage from Englerup isn’t just a building; it’s a window into a past. It serves as a sobering reminder of the hardships endured by landless farmworkers and the resilience of families like the Larsens who called it home.