About Helgerud farm

A historical retrospective from the Middle Ages to modernity beside Lake Mjøsa

Helgerud Farm has a long and proud history dating back to the 11th century.

Helgerud Farm, idyllically located three kilometres south of Gjøvik town centre, close to the border with Østre Toten and near Lake Mjøsa, is more than just a farm; it is a testament to Norwegian history and agricultural culture through the centuries. From its earliest known roots in the Middle Ages, the farm has undergone a remarkable development, marked by changes in ownership, administrative shifts and adaptations to changing times.

The Middle Ages: An early establishment in Fjells parish

The first written records of Helgerud date all the way back to 1313, when the farm is mentioned in a charter as “Hællghærud i Fjeld Sogn (Toten)”. This firmly places Helgerud in a medieval context, probably cleared sometime between the 11th and 14th centuries. The name, interpreted either as “Helgaruð” (from the male name Helgi) or “Helguruð” (from the female name Helga), suggests a personal connection to the farm’s founder or early owners. Its location in “Fjells parish in Toten clerical district” underlines the farm’s ecclesiastical and administrative affiliation, and offers a glimpse of an organised society even in the early Middle Ages. At that time, property relations were different, and many farms were tied to the church or local chieftains. Helgerud’s position by Lake Mjøsa has been strategically important, both for transport, trade and access to resources.

Helgerud has not only been a place for agriculture, but also a source of other resources. Lime extraction at nearby sites in the 19th century shows a broader economic activity connected to the area. What particularly distinguishes Helgerud, however, are its long family traditions. While many farms in the Gjøvik area experienced frequent changes of ownership, Helgerud was purchased by Kristian Paulsen around 1820, and his descendants retained ownership continuously for a full 200 years, until 2020. This continuity of family ownership is rare and gives the farm a unique story of generations who have shaped and lived off the land.

The farm operations have also adapted over time. In 1957 Helgerud comprised 115 decares of cultivated land, 55 decares of pasture and 250 decares of productive forest. By 2009 the pastureland had been planted with forest, and the total forest area had increased to around 600 decares, illustrating a shift in focus within agriculture. The buildings on the farm, although the large L-shaped barn from 1874 was demolished in 2009 to make way for a new outbuilding, bear witness to a building history that for the current main buildings stretches back to the 1920s.

The history of Helgerud would not be complete without mentioning the crofts around the farm, such as Helgerudstuggua, Øvereng, Nereng and Steinvoll. These holdings represent an important part of Norway’s social history, where families lived and worked under the main farm, and their destinies were closely tied to the principal holding. Several of these holdings, such as Nordre Helgerud and Øvereng, were separated off and later bought back, illustrating the dynamics of property relations.

Today, Helgerud Farm stands as a powerful symbol of the deep historical heritage that characterises the Norwegian landscape. From its establishment in medieval Toten to today’s modern agriculture near Gjøvik, the farm tells a story of perseverance, adaptation and the strong bonds between people, family and land. Its past offers valuable insight into social structures, agricultural traditions and the enduring significance of places like Helgerud for shared history.