STORVIKEN

Translated by Inger Nillson from Sunndalsboka Bind IV, pp. 99-109, Ivar Seljedal, Utgitt Av, Sunndal, Oksendal og Alvundeid Sogelag, 1967.

Farm History

The name 'Storviken' is found in written sources as early as the 1740s, but is not used as far as we know in official documents in the "old days." Only at the registration in 1886 does it have official value. Storviken, of course, means that the farm is the 'bigger' compared with other smaller farms in Viklandet in the area of the fjord. The farm Storviken, as it is now, answers to two farms that in the old days had the names Utviken and Loeviken, but has in recent days been merged into one farm but kept the partition in two agricultural units. Utviken existed as early as the days of the Black Death c.1350, but was deserted in 1440 or around that time. Utviken meant an outer vik ('vik' meaning inlet) in opposition to an inner vik (Innviken). That was the name and now is the history.

In the Middle Ages, Utviken belonged to the archdiocese of Nidaros (which is today Trondheim). After the Reformation (c.1550) the farm was added to the land that was at the disposal of the parish priest of Sunndal. On the other hand, Loeviken hardly existed during the Middle Ages as a farm and has therefore hardly belonged to the archdiocese. The first mention of Loeviken is found about 1608. As the other farms in Viklandet were added to the land that was disposed by the priest in Sunndal, it is only natural that Loeviken was also added to that. Loeviken is also called Bardviken (pronounced Boardviken). This latter name is written from about 1700 when a man called Bard lived there for about 30 years. The name Loeviken has probably originated because in the old days there was a loe there (Inger's comment regarding loe is that it has something to do with hay, probably a shed for hay).

Storviken Nr 1 (Utviken) was, according to a royal resolution dated 27 September 1833, sold to the man who sat there (the man who worked it) for 400 daler. This document is dated 22 October 1833. Together with this selling, the farm was liable to pay a certain amount to the parish priest in Sunndal Ð three barrels and two scoops of grain Ð but this tax was dissolved in 1856. The man bought it back.

Storviken Nr 2 (Loeviken) was sold according to a royal resolution dated 26 June 1840 for 180 daler and that document was dated 10 July 1840. They also had to pay the parish an amount of grain in old measures later figured out to be 1,312 hectare liter, but this was just as for the other farm scrapped for the amount of 227 kroner (the obligation to deliver grain was bought back in 1905 for about 227 kroner). [Inger's comment: That was the same year that Norway broke away from Sweden.]

Farming

(These paragraphs contain technicalities about taxation and what they owed for the land.)

In 1693, they had the tax reduced because there was an avalanche from the mountain that had done great damage. Utviken and Loeviken in 1723 had soil that was middling (not good, not bad) and very unsure of growing of grain during dry years. It is mentioned that same year that they raised the tax from Utviken, but nothing came of it because the registration was not activated. Utviken had oats; the tithe is mentioned, most likely being paid to the Sunndal parish; it says for certain periods how many barrels they had to deliver. Loeviken in 1723 produced 3-3/4 barrels mixed grain, oats being the most. There is a column for rye, one for oats and one for potatoes from 1835 and onwards (the first mention of potatoes). That is the same for both of these farms.

(Now we come to the animals, just the first and last years)

Regarding hay, in 1723 Utviken harvested 30 sommer lass (loads on wheels that a horse could pull) and Loeviken 8 sommer lass.

Regarding mills, in the 1620s there was a small mill in Storviken (Utviken) and one also in Loeviken. In 1661, there is no mill mentioned on either farm, but in 1723 there was one mill on both farms. At the end of the 1700s, Storviken had a mill but the one in Loeviken was gone.

Storviken in the 1840s had two husmann (farmhands) with land (they probably had a small place to live with a little land to grow small amounts of things for themselves). In 1865, there was no husmann. Loeviken never had any husmann with land as far as we know.

Storviken was parted in two units until 1694. In the years from 1695-99, those two units seem to have been deserted. From 1700, the two units were joined into one and it has been like that since then. Loeviken always was only one farm. From 1900, there have been some changes on these farms. From the old days, they have had some forest but this has in recent days been taken over by the government. And in connection with this there have been some changes in the units. The two registered farming units of Storviken and Loeviken were from about 1905 redistributed into six. (There then follow details on this redistribution p. 102, government forest, etc.)

Register of People Who Owned Farms

Storviken Nr 2: Viken (Loeviken, Bardviken):

[Then follows the size of the farm in three different years. Inger cannot say what the sizes mean. There also follow the names of the oppsittere (the one who sat on the farm Ð operated it but didn't necessarily own it Ð we will call this person the 'farmer'.]