Smerup
Encyclopedia
Smerup is a village in the southern part of Stevns
, a peninsula of the Island Sjælland in Denmark
, Europe
. The village is centered around a church (built around year 1270) and a village pond. The village is situated between the cities Faxe
and Store Heddinge
. The distance to the city Køge
is 25 km. Smerup is parish-of-ease to the neighboring village Store Spjellerup, but is itself church city for the larger neighboring village Store Torøje.
7 farms outside the village limits remain active, while the village numbers 4 shut down farms and about 30 old houses with approximately 50-100 residents of all ages. Bus connections are scarce. Nearest shopping is available in the city Karise
(4 km). Spjellerup-Smerup Central School is found 2 km south of the village.
From a distance you see the white church tower; the rest of the village is covered between plantations. An annual civic festival is held which is very popular. The village is a genuine Stevns-village, since it is placed on the eastern side of Stevns Å. Administratively though, Smerup belongs to Faxe municipality
.
The farming village is described in detail from around year 1700 with information about residents, land area, buildings and livestock etc. In the summer 1746, 6 farms and 2 houses were caught in a fire, but the farms were rebuilt within a few years. The oldest map of Smerup is from 1790, whereas parish registers can be found from 1726. Moreover, census papers from 1787 have been preserved, which document a population of 126 persons in Smerup at that time.
As a result of the big land reforms in the late 18th century, the farms of Smerup were moved out in to the open country in 1830. The ancient village community had come to an end, and the farms were placed near their respective lands. At the same time, ownership of the land was changed in a way where freehold replaced copyhold. Farms were originally named after each copyholder, but were also numbered 1-11 by the administration in Vemmetofte. After freehold was introduced, each freeholder could name his own farm. These names, including 'Tungepil', 'Åbjerg', 'Dyrlund' etc., are still used today.
In the 1900-years only two houses were built in Smerup and since then only 1 new house was built in 2006. All other houses are from the 18th and 19th centuries. When the co-op
was shut down in 1971 the village became quieter. But in recent years a generational change has taken place which has brought young families with children to the village.
Stevns
Stevns is a municipality in Region Sjælland on the southeast coast of the island of Zealand in south Denmark. The municipality covers an area of 247 km², and has a total population of 21,892 . Its mayor is Paul Arne Sørensen, a member of the Venstre political party...
, a peninsula of the Island Sjælland in Denmark
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
, Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
. The village is centered around a church (built around year 1270) and a village pond. The village is situated between the cities Faxe
Faxe
Faxe or Fakse is a town in Denmark in Region Sjælland on the island of Zealand.Before the Danish Kommunalreformen , Fakse was also a municipality...
and Store Heddinge
Store Heddinge
Store Heddinge is a Danish town in Region Sjælland. It is the administrative seat of Stevns Municipality and has a population of 3,448 .-History:...
. The distance to the city Køge
Køge
Køge Municipality is a municipality in Region Sjælland on the east coast of the island of Zealand approx. 40 km. southwest of Copenhagen. The municipality covers an area of 255 km² , and has a total population of 56,637...
is 25 km. Smerup is parish-of-ease to the neighboring village Store Spjellerup, but is itself church city for the larger neighboring village Store Torøje.
7 farms outside the village limits remain active, while the village numbers 4 shut down farms and about 30 old houses with approximately 50-100 residents of all ages. Bus connections are scarce. Nearest shopping is available in the city Karise
Karise
Karise is the main town of Karise Parish in Faxe Municipality, Region Sjælland in the southeast of Denmark. Karise town has a population of 2,187...
(4 km). Spjellerup-Smerup Central School is found 2 km south of the village.
From a distance you see the white church tower; the rest of the village is covered between plantations. An annual civic festival is held which is very popular. The village is a genuine Stevns-village, since it is placed on the eastern side of Stevns Å. Administratively though, Smerup belongs to Faxe municipality
Faxe municipality
Faxe municipality is a municipality Faxe municipality is a municipality Faxe municipality is a municipality (Danish, kommune in Denmark in Region Sjælland on the island of Zealand. The municipality covers an area of 406 km² and has a population of 35,418 (2008)...
.
History
Smerup is an old village from the years 1000-1100. This is witnessed in the local archive in the year 1310, where the village is named Smith-Thorp. Originally Smerup was a farming village, and all 11 farms were copyhold farms under the manor Vemmetofte. In addition to the 11 farms in the old village and their families, there were a small number of houses inhabited by landless lodgers and workmen (blacksmith, carpenter, weaver etc.).The farming village is described in detail from around year 1700 with information about residents, land area, buildings and livestock etc. In the summer 1746, 6 farms and 2 houses were caught in a fire, but the farms were rebuilt within a few years. The oldest map of Smerup is from 1790, whereas parish registers can be found from 1726. Moreover, census papers from 1787 have been preserved, which document a population of 126 persons in Smerup at that time.
As a result of the big land reforms in the late 18th century, the farms of Smerup were moved out in to the open country in 1830. The ancient village community had come to an end, and the farms were placed near their respective lands. At the same time, ownership of the land was changed in a way where freehold replaced copyhold. Farms were originally named after each copyholder, but were also numbered 1-11 by the administration in Vemmetofte. After freehold was introduced, each freeholder could name his own farm. These names, including 'Tungepil', 'Åbjerg', 'Dyrlund' etc., are still used today.
In the 1900-years only two houses were built in Smerup and since then only 1 new house was built in 2006. All other houses are from the 18th and 19th centuries. When the co-op
Cooperative
A cooperative is a business organization owned and operated by a group of individuals for their mutual benefit...
was shut down in 1971 the village became quieter. But in recent years a generational change has taken place which has brought young families with children to the village.