maarup church and sorroundings april 2007 - december 2014 gb

Maarup Church and Sorroundings

April 2007 December 2014

With sporadic introduction on sand drifts and erosion from abt. 1550 -1936

Maarup Church with Rubjerg Wandering Dune in the background, September 1999.

Tore Gundersborg Sandbl

Peter Sandbl

Maarup Church and Sorroundings: April 2007 December 2014

Peter Sandbl [email protected] - www.sandbol.dk

Side 2 af 52

Editing, text and layout: Peter Sandbl Cover photo: Courtesy of Tore Gundersborg Sandbl

Map on page: from The Ministry of



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Content:

Content: ............................................................................................................................................ 3

Preface .............................................................................................................................................. 4

Sand drifts and erosion .............................................................................................................. 5

References: ..................................................................................................................................... 6

April 2007 ........................................................................................................................................ 8

May 2009 ........................................................................................................................................ 15

October 2009 ................................................................................................................................ 21

July 2012 ........................................................................................................................................ 24

December 2014 ........................................................................................................................... 43



Side 4 af 52

Preface

The background for compiling this material is a number of personal interests and

reasons:

1) Through more than 40 years of genealogical research, I have been able to trace

one of my ancestral lines back to this parish and church.

In other words, they were members of the parish and worked the land just

north of the church, which is now for the majority in the ocean. Very possibly

so, are their remains.

Family relations and others, who may be interested in further details may find

these at the following link:

http://tubakken.dk/9540/Jesper%20J%C3%B8rgensen%20&%20Kirsten%20Nielsdatte

r

2) It has almost, always fascinated me how mankind and nature forms our

environment and puzzled me how and why personal and political decisions

influence the outcome.

A lot of this is beyond the scope of the present material. However, a very

instructional site covering some of these aspects should be available in Danish,

English and German at the following link:

http://rubjergknude.dk/engelsk/cover-page/front-page/

A link to an NGO site with the goal to save the church on sight unfortunately

only in Danish and German - is available at this link:

http://www.maarupkirke.dk/maarup.htm

3) I took my first photos at the age of 4 and has had it as a on and off hobby ever

since. I have never brought it to the point of technical perfection or professional

use, but still like it for documentation, preserving impressions and

communicating both.

More photos on various topics are available through this link, which is only

partially in English: http://www.sandbol.dk/

4) With time, I have realised that available time, life and relationships are fragile.

New discoveries may also find place.

Whatever detailed reasons, a consequence is that a perfect result may never be

reached. As a result, effort and time is lost.

In conclusion and not being sure about covering all interests and reasons I have

decided to share my work along the way and hope that it may be of use as a stepping

stone for others, who may share in an equal way.

I sincerely hope that some of you may find it interesting and maybe even inspiring

and in the latter case that you will not forget the source.



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Sand drifts and erosion

Outside Loenstrup village, where its western fields reaches the sea, the cliff is less

than 30 m above sea level, but from there it rises towards the south to reach 70 m at

Rubjergknud to which height the dunes shall be added.

In the 1553 report from the local priest, he writes, that in Rubjerg parish, the house

for the parish clerck is all spilled by sand, as well as the whole parish and this was

also the case in Maarup parish where the priests farm was almost totally covered by

sand.

In the priests report from July 21st 1568 (Hansen, 1964) it is imformed that there

are 19 farms, 13 bol and 4 houses in Rubjerg parish plus 12 farms, 1 mill, 7 bol and 2

houses in Maarup parish belonging under various estates.

In the priests report from 1571 he writes, that in Rubjerg parish, the priests farm

which the priest had moved, was all spoiled by sand and for Maarup it is said that the

priests farm is badly spiled with all its property.

In the priests report from 1599 (Hansen, 1964) it is informed that there are 5 farms

and 25 bol belonging to the nobility and the Crown. 2 bol are under the church with

the taxes to the crown. In Maarup parish there are 6 farms and 8 bol. One farm is

under the church with the taxes to the crown.

In 1625 the priests farm in Maarup has been desolate for many years.

The priests report of 1638 for Rubjerg-Maarup parishes (Knudsen, 1911-1914) says:

South west of Rubjerg Church there used to be a large tall mountain by the name of

Rubjerg Knude, which has fallen into the sea a long time ago.

Rubjrg and Maarup

List of what is to be found in Rubjerg parish.

Villages: 1) Ruberg, 2) Wllstrup. Farms: 1) Allstrup, 2) Kaihollm. Mountains: South

west from Ruberg Church there used to be a large tall mountainKirke har vret et

stort, hjt bjerg by the name of Rubjerg Knude, which has fallen into the sea a long

time ago.

In the annex Morup.

One village, Lnstrup, throughwhich runs a brook.

Some years back there used to be a large village called Vistrup, which has been

totally spoiled by the Dune, and in which is now six fishing cottages also being called

Vistrup.

A witness at Vennebjerg Districts court, March 21st 1642 tells that Mads Mikkelsens

farm in Lnstrup is so spoiled, that it can only pay half the taxes and its value isnt

half as good as 40 years ago. What the man could then plow, is now in the sea.

According to a court witness of February 13th 1643 the land of 14 men in Lnstrup

Village Field was so spoiled and ruined by sand drift and water - worse than last year -

so they could only pay half tax. The same counted for 6 men in Vester Vidstrup, which

used to be a large village, but now was 6 fishing cottages (priests report of 1638).

In a court witness of April 22nd 1650 it is mentioned that Maarup parish is more

spoiled from sand drift than earlier.



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A witness of Vennebjerg District Court of March 1652 says that fields and meadows of

Lnstrup, plus gathering of firewood and grazing was partly destroyed by sand and

partly taken by the sea, so that now there was neither meadow nor firewood.

A court witness of December 15th 1653 states: V. Vidstrup fields, meadow, firewood

and grazing is so spoiled by sand, that it is impossible to plow or grow anything and

that the small earthen dwellings are drifted by sand, and their kitchen gardens ruined.

One smallhold is deserted due to sand drift.

In 1680 Lnstrup Village in Maarup parish lay open to the beach and sand drifting,

which immediately ruined the fields and the sea cut from the fields, so that they

caught fish where they used to grow good cereal. At the priests farm the majority

was wasted and V. Vidstrup fields and meadow lay covered in white sand, and the

inhabitants had moved except from one smallhold.

In the field register from 16?? Maarup village is: the old, due to sand drift, moved

Wistrup Village and now called Maarup in the land registers.

The damages due to sand drift have certainly been huge, as Maarup Village in 1688

only consisted of 6 bol. Of the villages total land, 69 acres were in Vidstup fields, 14.3

in Vennebjerg field and 0.7 in Lnstrup Field. In Rubjerg Village there was one full size

farm besides the priests in 1688, 11 full and 5 half bol plus 9 houses with land.

Ulstrup Village in Rubjerg parish was only a small village with hardly 4 full and 2 half

bol plus one house with land. The position of Lnstrup in the bottom of a deep ravine

had certain practical aspects: easy access to fresh water, shelter from the western

winds and natural way down to the sea. In 1688, Lnstrup Village had 3 full farms, 1

half farm, 8 full and 1 half smallhold plus 3 quarter bol 1 smallhold and 11 housses

without land.

The memorial stone of the visit Christian IX in Loenstrup in 1871, west of Maarup

Church, was 265 feet from the escarpment in 1889; but 17years later only 221 feet

and in 1936 144 feet.

The illustrations shown after the references may give an impression of the change of

the coastline during time.

References:

Hansen, C.R. 1964. Prsteindberetninger om fstegods m.v. i Vendelbo Stift 1568 og

1599. Udg. Udvalget for udgivelse af kilder til landbefolkningens historie. Dansk

Videnskabs Forlag.

Hansen, V. 1964. Landskab og bebyggelse i Vendsyssel. Studier over

landbegyggelsens udvikling indtil slutningen af 1600-taller. Kulturgeografiske Skrifter

Bd. 7. C.A. Reitzels Forlag 1964, Kbhvn. Eng summary: Morphology and rural

settlement in Vendsyssel.

Klitgaard, C. 1942. Sandflugten i Vendsyssel og en forsvunden landsby ved Kjul

Strand. Vends Aarb Bd XIV, 1-46. Hist Samf Hjrring Amt 1941-42.

Knudsen, H. 1911-14. Indberetninger fra prsterne i Aalborg Stift 1638. Jy Saml, Rk

4 Bd I, 73-141. Jy Hist Top Selsk 1911-14.



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Map from the land registry from about year 1800 showing the church just below the name Maarupgaard.

(The Ministry of Environment).

The changing coastline. (Hansen, 1964).



Side 8 af 52

April 2007

Maarup Church from the west side. The Anchor stems from the British ship the Crescent which

stranded under way to Gothenburg in 1808, during the Napoleonic wars (In Denmark we call

them the English wars).



Side 9 af 52

Maarup Church.



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The church and the coast line from the south.

View to the South from Maarup Church. Rubjerg Mile (wandering dune) and Rubjerg Knude

Lighthouse which is now abandoned. The lighthouse was first lit on December 27th 1900 and on

August 1st 1968 the light was turned off finally. The tower is 23 meter tall and placed on the

highest spot above sea level (60 meters). However today the Dunes are higher than the tower.

When it was build it was 200 meters from the sea today it is about 30-40 meters.



Side 11 af 52

Maarup Church with the bell tower to the right.



Side 12 af 52

View from Rubjerg Mile towards Vennebjerg church.



Side 13 af 52

View from Rubjerg Wandering Dune towards Maarup Church (white at the edge of the sea) and

Loenstrup Village, where the new church made of red bricks and substitute for Maarup, is seen

in the green forest.



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Rubjerg Knud Lighthouse.



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May 2009

Rubjerg Knude Lighthouse.



Side 16 af 52

The coastline at Maarup Church.

The Church from the west side. Roof and walls down to about 6-7 feet above ground level has

been removed.



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Rubjerg Sand dune and Rubjerg Knude Lighthouse.



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Maarup Church from the north. Plaster on the wall removed.

The interior of the church. Plaster on the walls and church furniture removed.



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The Anchor stems from the British ship the Crescent which stranded under way to Gothenburg

in 1808, during the Napoleonic wars (In Denmark we call them the English wars). It has now

been moved to the land side of the church. In the background, Rubjerg Mile (wandering dune)

and Rubjerg Knude Lighthouse.



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Vennebjerg Mill.



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October 2009

Rubjerg Sand Dune and Rubjerg Knude Lighthouse.



Side 22 af 52

The coastline at the Church.



Side 23 af 52

Maarup Church from the west.

Rubjerg Knude Lighthouse from Maarup Church.



Side 24 af 52

July 2012

At the old church yard at Rubjerg.



Side 25 af 52

At the old church yard at Rubjerg.



Side 26 af 52

Rubjerg Sand Dune and Rubjerg Knude Lighthouse.



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Side 28 af 52

The memorial stone of the visit Christian IX in Loenstrup in 1871. The memorial stone has

been moved further inland.



Side 29 af 52

Marup church from the west side. The western wall is now removed.



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Side 34 af 52

The raw interior wall.



Side 35 af 52

November 2012

Rubjerg Knude Lighthouse.



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Side 37 af 52

Maarup Church.



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Side 40 af 52

Plate in memory of the officers and men drowned from the Crescent in 1808. Originally placed

in the church of Maarup, now in the church of Loenstrup.



Side 41 af 52

Maarup Church babtistry now in Loenstrup Church.



Side 42 af 52

Part of the original alter from Maarup Church, now in the church of Loenstrup. Showing the

Holy Mother Maria with the child Jesus next to her mother Scta. Anna.



Side 43 af 52

December 2014



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Side 46 af 52

The interior of Maarup Church from the west The northern wall of the main room has been removed.



Side 47 af 52

The interior of Maarup Church from the west.



Side 48 af 52

The bell tower at Maarup Church and Loenstrup.



Side 49 af 52

View from Rubjerg Wandering Dune towards Vennebjerg Church.



Side 50 af 52

View from Rubjerg Wandering Dune towards Maarup Church and Loenstrup.

The Lighthouse at Raabjerg Knude. The houses are complete broken down.



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maarup church and sorroundings april 2007 - december 2014 gb

Documents

ministry of maarup church

peter sandbl cover photo

following link

sand drifts

ngo site

present material

instructional site

number of personal interests