Øverland
Encyclopedia
Øverland is an area in Bærum
, Norway
. Named after the local farm, Øverland is also known as a recreational area and for its arboretum
. It has lent its name to the river Øverlandselva
.
, west of Hosle
and south of Bærumsmarka
.
The river Øverlandselva
runs past Øverland farm, whence the river got its name. A bridge over it was mentioned as early as 1594 by Jens Nilssøn, and it is considered a part of the so-called Pilgrim's Route
. The river continues south through Haslum before turning southwest near Løkeberg
, ultimately emptying into the lake Engervannet
at Blommenholm
. The southernmost section has formerly been called Løkebergelva.
. Following the Reformation
of 1536, parts of it was overturned to the Crown, whereas two other parts were owned by Oslo Hospital and Nesøygodset. Later splits and consolidations followed, until the last consolidation in 1912, when the farm reached its former size. In 1943 it was split again, into Østre and Vestre (Eastern and Western) Øverland. Vestre Øverland was taken over by the Royal Norwegian Society for Development.
In 1826 the farm was registered as having 7 horses, 28 cattle and 32 sheep. In 1939 this number had risen to 9 horses and 69 cattle; sheep had been discontinued but ducks and chickens had been added. The farm is also used for fruit cultivation. In older times limestone
extraction and burning was conducted northeast of the farm, at Steinskogen. Limestone burning is an old characteristic of Bærum municipality, and a lime kiln is the inspiration for its coat of arms. Lime from Øverland was used at Akershus Fortress
in 1629 and 1661. Around the same time, the farm also operated a nearby sawmill.
In 1957 the Royal Norwegian Society for Development, in cooperation with the Norwegian Forest Owners Association
, established an arboretum
slightly west of the farm. The purpose was to study how different tree species coped with the Norwegian climate. The universities of Oslo
and Ås
as well as Skogforsk now runs the arboretum together with the Society for Development. Further west, the Godthaab centre for physical rehabilitation was raised in 1925, partially on land bought from Øverland. The centre was used as a Lebensborn
facility during the German occupation of Norway. In the east, part of the Østre Øverland territory has been used for a golf course
.
, the extension of the Røa Line to Øverland was considered; the line would be constructed via Østerås
to Øverland, continuing from there to Lommedalen
in northwestern Bærum. The line reached Bærum in 1948 with the opening of Grini station
, which was ultimately closed in 1995. At the time of the last extension in 1972, the original schedule was to build rails to Hosle; this did not materialize and the construction stopped east of Hosle, at Østerås station
.
Øverland is served by the line 143 of the Ruter
bus network; the proximate bus station is named Åsterud. The bus station is located on the Norwegian National Road 168
, which runs south of Øverland farm and arboretum.
Bærum
is a municipality in Akershus county, Norway. The administrative centre of the municipality is the town of Sandvika. Bærum was established as a municipality on 1 January 1838. A suburb of Oslo, Bærum is located on the west coast of the city....
, Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
. Named after the local farm, Øverland is also known as a recreational area and for its arboretum
Arboretum
An arboretum in a narrow sense is a collection of trees only. Related collections include a fruticetum , and a viticetum, a collection of vines. More commonly, today, an arboretum is a botanical garden containing living collections of woody plants intended at least partly for scientific study...
. It has lent its name to the river Øverlandselva
Øverlandselva
Øverlandselva is a river that flows through Bærum, Norway.It starts near Øverland in northern Bærum, at the confluence of the creeks Seternbekken and Ilabekken. It runs south and southwest, emptying into the eastern side of Engervannet at Blommenholm. A river runs from Engervannet and flows into...
.
Geography
The area is located north of HaslumHaslum
Haslum is a district in the municipality of Bærum, Norway. Its population is 6,041. Haslum is noted for its medieval parish church, which is surrounded by a cemetery.-References:...
, west of Hosle
Hosle
Hosle is a district in the municipality of Bærum, Norway. Its population is 5,713.-References:...
and south of Bærumsmarka
Bærumsmarka
Bærumsmarka is a village in Akershus, Norway....
.
The river Øverlandselva
Øverlandselva
Øverlandselva is a river that flows through Bærum, Norway.It starts near Øverland in northern Bærum, at the confluence of the creeks Seternbekken and Ilabekken. It runs south and southwest, emptying into the eastern side of Engervannet at Blommenholm. A river runs from Engervannet and flows into...
runs past Øverland farm, whence the river got its name. A bridge over it was mentioned as early as 1594 by Jens Nilssøn, and it is considered a part of the so-called Pilgrim's Route
Pilgrim's Route
The Pilgrim's Route, also known as St. Olav's Way or the Old Kings' Road, was a pilgrimage route to the Nidaros Cathedral in Trondheim, Norway, the site of the tomb of St. Olav. The main route is approximately long...
. The river continues south through Haslum before turning southwest near Løkeberg
Løkeberg
Løkeberg is a district in the municipality of Bærum, Norway. Its population is 4,568.-References:...
, ultimately emptying into the lake Engervannet
Engervannet
Engervannet is a lake between Blommenholm and Sandvika in the municipality of Bærum in Akershus county, Norway....
at Blommenholm
Blommenholm
Blommenholm is a district in the municipality of Bærum, Norway. Its population is 2,936.It is served by the train station Blommenholm on the Drammen Line....
. The southernmost section has formerly been called Løkebergelva.
History and usage
The name of the area is taken from the farm Øverland. Historic spellings of the name include Efraland and Øfraland, used around the fourteenth century, as well as Offuerlandt (1578), Øffueland (1594) and Øffverland (1723). The farm was owned by the Church of NorwayChurch of Norway
The Church of Norway is the state church of Norway, established after the Lutheran reformation in Denmark-Norway in 1536-1537 broke the ties to the Holy See. The church confesses the Lutheran Christian faith...
. Following the Reformation
Protestant Reformation
The Protestant Reformation was a 16th-century split within Western Christianity initiated by Martin Luther, John Calvin and other early Protestants. The efforts of the self-described "reformers", who objected to the doctrines, rituals and ecclesiastical structure of the Roman Catholic Church, led...
of 1536, parts of it was overturned to the Crown, whereas two other parts were owned by Oslo Hospital and Nesøygodset. Later splits and consolidations followed, until the last consolidation in 1912, when the farm reached its former size. In 1943 it was split again, into Østre and Vestre (Eastern and Western) Øverland. Vestre Øverland was taken over by the Royal Norwegian Society for Development.
In 1826 the farm was registered as having 7 horses, 28 cattle and 32 sheep. In 1939 this number had risen to 9 horses and 69 cattle; sheep had been discontinued but ducks and chickens had been added. The farm is also used for fruit cultivation. In older times limestone
Limestone
Limestone is a sedimentary rock composed largely of the minerals calcite and aragonite, which are different crystal forms of calcium carbonate . Many limestones are composed from skeletal fragments of marine organisms such as coral or foraminifera....
extraction and burning was conducted northeast of the farm, at Steinskogen. Limestone burning is an old characteristic of Bærum municipality, and a lime kiln is the inspiration for its coat of arms. Lime from Øverland was used at Akershus Fortress
Akershus Fortress
Akershus Fortress or Akershus Castle is a medieval castle that was built to protect Oslo, the capital of Norway. It has also been used as a prison.- Construction :...
in 1629 and 1661. Around the same time, the farm also operated a nearby sawmill.
In 1957 the Royal Norwegian Society for Development, in cooperation with the Norwegian Forest Owners Association
Norwegian Forest Owners Association
Norwegian Forest Owners Association is an association representing 43,000 owners of forest in Norway. The main functions of the organisation is to assist the members, who are mostly farmers, to manage their forest. This includes forestry plans, part of the cutting of timer and negotiating...
, established an arboretum
Arboretum
An arboretum in a narrow sense is a collection of trees only. Related collections include a fruticetum , and a viticetum, a collection of vines. More commonly, today, an arboretum is a botanical garden containing living collections of woody plants intended at least partly for scientific study...
slightly west of the farm. The purpose was to study how different tree species coped with the Norwegian climate. The universities of Oslo
University of Oslo
The University of Oslo , formerly The Royal Frederick University , is the oldest and largest university in Norway, situated in the Norwegian capital of Oslo. The university was founded in 1811 and was modelled after the recently established University of Berlin...
and Ås
Norwegian University of Life Sciences
The Norwegian University of Life Sciences is a public university located in Ås, Norway.It is located at Ås in Akershus, near Oslo, and has around 3800 students...
as well as Skogforsk now runs the arboretum together with the Society for Development. Further west, the Godthaab centre for physical rehabilitation was raised in 1925, partially on land bought from Øverland. The centre was used as a Lebensborn
Lebensborn
Lebensborn was a Nazi programme set up by SS leader Heinrich Himmler that provided maternity homes and financial assistance to the wives of SS members and to unmarried mothers, and also ran orphanages and relocation programmes for children.Initially set up in Germany in 1935, Lebensborn expanded...
facility during the German occupation of Norway. In the east, part of the Østre Øverland territory has been used for a golf course
Golf course
A golf course comprises a series of holes, each consisting of a teeing ground, fairway, rough and other hazards, and a green with a flagstick and cup, all designed for the game of golf. A standard round of golf consists of playing 18 holes, thus most golf courses have this number of holes...
.
Transportation
In the interwar periodInterwar period
Interwar period can refer to any period between two wars. The Interbellum is understood to be the period between the end of the Great War or First World War and the beginning of the Second World War in Europe....
, the extension of the Røa Line to Øverland was considered; the line would be constructed via Østerås
Østerås
Østerås is a village in Akershus, Norway....
to Øverland, continuing from there to Lommedalen
Lommedalen
Lommedalen is a picturesque, rural community in a small valley in Bærum municipality, in the county of Akershus, Norway. The population is about 3000 people. Its name is derived from the river Lomma, which, after joining with Isielva, forms Sandvikselva. Another explantion of the name, is by the...
in northwestern Bærum. The line reached Bærum in 1948 with the opening of Grini station
Grini (station)
Grini is a former subway station on the Røa Line of the Oslo Metro.The station was located between Ekraveien and Eiksmarka, and was opened when the Røa Line was extended into Bærum on 22 December 1948. It was the first station on the Røa Line located in Bærum; the line would later be extended to...
, which was ultimately closed in 1995. At the time of the last extension in 1972, the original schedule was to build rails to Hosle; this did not materialize and the construction stopped east of Hosle, at Østerås station
Østerås (station)
Østerås is the terminal station on the Røa Line of the Oslo Metro. The station is located in Bærum municipality, 10.2 km from Stortinget.Østerås was opened on 16 November 1972, extending the line from Lijordet....
.
Øverland is served by the line 143 of the Ruter
Ruter
Ruter As is the public transport authority for Oslo and Akershus, Norway. The company, organized as a limited company is responsible for managing, but not operating, public transport in the two counties, including bus, the Oslo Metro, the Oslo Tramway and ferries...
bus network; the proximate bus station is named Åsterud. The bus station is located on the Norwegian National Road 168
Norwegian National Road 168
Norwegian National Road 168 is a major route between Bærum and Oslo, Norway.It stretches from the industrial area of Rud, Bærum to the inner city of Oslo. It is connected with important roads like the European route E16 and the National Roads 150 , 161 and 162...
, which runs south of Øverland farm and arboretum.