“Can you believe this farmhouse was built around 1800?” I ask my audience. This is the Gård fra Lundager a typical Fyn farmhouse. It’s a remarkable piece of history.
The Gård fra Lundager belonged to the Brahesborg estate. The tenant farmers paid rent through labor and goods. They weren’t just any farmers though. They were part of the local farming elite. They had extensive networks and strong family ties. Life on Fyn was good. The land was fertile and the forests provided plenty of resources.
Imagine the daily life here. The Gård fra Lundager boasts two fireplaces. One in the brewhouse the other in the living room. The brewhouse was where the hard work took place. Think butchering brewing pressing juice and baking. This wasn’t your average kitchen. There was even a malt kiln in the brewhouse for smoking barley. The smoked barley was crucial in the brewing process.
The farmhouse wasn’t just built and forgotten. It evolved. Parts are much older. You can see the date 1747 and initials carved into one of the doors. A later date 1830 is found on another door beam. The farmhouse has undergone several expansions and modifications.
One distinctive feature of the Gård fra Lundager is its use of “suler”. These are posts that support parts of the roof. Instead of resting the rafters on the walls the rafters hang from a massive beam. This is a very old building technique. It was common in some areas of Denmark. You can see the suler and the large beam in the barn.
The Gård fra Lundager wasn’t just a home. It was a thriving farm. It had a large garden bursting with herbs vegetables fruit trees and berry plants. Towering hop vines were a striking element. The garden was a crucial part of their self-sufficiency.
The first known tenant farmer was Hans Christensen. He and his wife Sitzel Jacobsdatter passed away in 1753. Lars Rasmussen then married one of their daughters. He had a challenging start needing to support his wife’s three siblings and manage the farm’s debt. History repeated itself. One of his unmarried daughters married a man from a neighboring village. This man took over the farm in 1786.
The Gård fra Lundager showcases a vibrant history. It’s a testament to the resilience and resourcefulness of the tenant farmers who called it home. It was sold to the Open-Air Museum in 1924. The farm now preserves a piece of Danish agricultural heritage. It tells the story of a family’s journey and the evolving face of rural Fyn. Now it is time to move on to the next location on our tour.