Private buildings

fabel 2Of the approximately 200 timber buildings from the period before 1537 that are preserved in Norway, 44 is situated in Numedal. Of these, 3 are in Flesberg, 16 in Rollag and 21 in Nore and Uvdal. 22 of the buildings are from before the Black Death (1349). Two of the oldest buildings are in Nore and Uvdal and they are built with timber from 1160. One of the most original buildings are the Alfstad loft from 1193 in Rollag.

There are three long loft in the valley of a type found only in Numedal. Two lofts are on the farm Kravik in Nore and is from the 1200s. The third loft is on Sevletunet and may be built as late as 1632, but it has clear similarities with the two medieval buildinger.
In several of the buildings there are portals with carvings showing that the region had highly skilled woodcarvers. Many of the buildings built after 1537 are made in the medieval tradition and are also protected.

Sevletunet storehouseThe Sevle loft is the newest of the three long lofts in Numedal. The loft is probably built as late as in 1632, but the shape of the building and the door columns has a typical medieval look. The loft has many similarities with the loft on Mellom Kravik, with entrance to each room from the gallery outside. The Sevle loft has two storage rooms on the ground floor and three bedrooms on the first floor with fixed beds along the walls.

Alfstad doorThe long loft on Mellom Kravik was built around the same time or slightly later than the long loft at Søre Kravik. The function was different however. The rooms on the ground floor are food supply rooms while the rooms on the first floor are bedrooms with fixed beds along the walls. The loft has two rooms on each floor and each room has entrance from the long gallery outside. A stair from the gallery on the ground floor leads up to the gallery on the first floor.

Søre KravikThe long loft on Søre Kravik differs from the others in Numedal, because it only has gallery on the long side of the ground floor. To get to the rooms on the first floor, people must go up a flight of stairs in a room on the ground floor. This room was called “hitburet” and was a guest room with fixed benches along the walls. The room facing the Kravik fjord was for food supplies.

thumb Vangestad loftAt Nordre Vangestad in Flesberg there is a loft that is dated before 1350. This has been built as a villa with bedrooms on the second floor, but has since been converted to a storehouse. The loft is different from the others in the valley. It has galleries on all four sides. This is common in Telemark, but it is only the loft at Søre Rauland in Uvdal that have a similar construction in Numedal.

Mellom KravikThe long loft on Mellom Kravik was built around the same time or slightly later than the long loft at Søre Kravik. However, the function was different. The rooms on the ground floor are food supply rooms while the rooms on the first floor are bedrooms with fixed beds along the walls. The loft has two rooms on each floor and each room has entrance from the long gallery outside. A stair from the gallery on the ground floor leads up to the gallery on the first floor.