Education in the 1850s

Krikkebjerg houses from the rural era

God’s peace and welcome to Krikkebjerghuse, Lejre Land of Legends’ 19th century environment. Here you’ll find two small homesteads with half-timbering, clay-lined walls and thatched roofs.
The houses are surrounded by old country gardens, a small field and pens with pigs, goats, sheep, ducks and geese. Krikkebjerghuse tell stories of people’s enormous toil and hard work to make ends meet. They also tell stories of play and life dreams, feasts and joyful moments. And many other stories. The houses are reconstructions of two houses from the Open Air Museum at Sorgenfri.

In the mid-1800s, Denmark was still a distinctly agricultural society, with the majority of the population living in the countryside. The largest groups in the countryside are the landowners, farmers and smallholders. In contrast to the landowners and farmers, the smallholders do not have enough land to live off the produce, so they have to seek work on estates or farms and supplement their meager income with various crafts such as wood shoemaker, weaver, ribbon maker, wheelwright, spinner etc.

They must live very frugally. It is a century of great changes both in the countryside and in the growing cities. These included the agrarian reforms, the introduction of the constitution and industrialization, which over time significantly changed living conditions in the country. In Krikkebjerghuse, students can immerse themselves in the life of a country householder’s children in the 1800s. They will be greeted by two homesteaders in farm clothes and experience how children had to help with daily chores from an early age. Sagnlandet Lejre’s smallholders are quick to get the students started chopping firewood, feeding the animals, fetching water, churning butter and training them in some of the important everyday tasks. They also like to tell stories about life in the 1800s for the younger students and put into perspective the youth, literature and political changes of the time for the older students. The physical setting, hands-on activities and historical stories help to promote students’ learning and immersion in life in the 19th century.

smallholding children in the 1850s

In this course, students have the opportunity to immerse themselves in the life of a smallholder’s children in the 1850s.

They will be met by two homesteaders who will introduce them to the life of a homesteader’s children and their many tasks. The course takes place in Sagnlandet’s reconstructed homestead environment with two atmospheric houses, farm animals and old country gardens. The students help feed all the animals, try a number of practical activities and hear stories about a child’s life with lots of work but also time for school, play and family.

The girls are taught how to churn butter and how wool from sheep can be turned into beautiful skirts or pants. The boys go to the chopping house where they cut, saw and chop firewood. The program ends with a joint assembly where a snack of freshly churned butter is served. Here, the farmer’s wife tells wonderful stories about life in the countryside in the old days, and experiences, knowledge and experiences are shared.

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smallholding children in the 1850s

Duration

3 hours, from 10:15 – 13:15.
The class has two instructors in the costume and role of homesteaders. The program supports the Common Objectives in the subjects history, culinary arts, crafts and design, Christian studies.

Class level

0.-9th grade.
Max. 28 students. The course is organized so that students are given age-appropriate tasks.

Specific learning objectives

The course supports food awareness and cooking techniques and provides opportunities to interpret meals with an understanding of rural values, culture and living conditions.

Students can use utensils and tools in relation to the form and function of the product.

The price for a class of max. 28 students is 2.550,- for the course.