34 C O N T E X T 1 1 5 : J U LY 2 0 1 0 This is a perfectly logical way to build a house when you have as much timber as they had available. There are some limited areas where a frame was used, with Germanic style framing in towns such as Oslo in the 17th and 18th centuries. They also have a couple of late examples of the use of a framework of posts with tie beams in the Oslo museum. These represent a regional tradition of building, although they are pretty primitive, and do not have the vertically boarded walls of the churches. Scholars argue that the churches were a response to models elsewhere in Europe, such as the basilica form and centrally planned churches. The influence I detected was the Islamic-looking arches to be seen in some of the arcades. This points to the very large early mosques, such as the Mezquita in Cordoba, Spain, with its forest of columns and arches. There is an early representation of what appears to be a stave church in the 13th century stained glass at Chartres, although there are no similar structures in France today. While a considerable effort had been taken in many of the churches to make them accessible, the attitude to health and safety was more relaxed than we are used to. This is a reflection of the national character trait of taking personal responsibility, and also the open nature of the approach to the countryside. Further reading The first book on the subject was Dietrichson, L, 1892, De Norske Stavkirker, Kristiana; the most useful popular guidebook in English is Valebrokk, Eva and Thiis-Evensen, Thomas trans Zwick, Ann Clay, 1993 (numerous further editions), Norway’s Stave Churches: architecture, history and legends. There are a number of other academic works in English which provide further detailed analysis, particularly of the carved west portals. Nick Molyneux is a team leader and inspector of historic buildings in the west midlands region of English Heritage. Norway’s stave churches Borgund, Sogn og Fjordane (1190s, Society for the Preservation of Ancient Norwegian Monuments) Eidsborg, Telemark (mid 13th century, museum) Flesberg, Flesberg, Buskerud (c1200, Church of Norway) Garmo, Oppland (c1150, museum, Lillehammer, moved) Gol, Gol, Buskerud (1212, museum, Oslo, moved) Grip, Møre og Romsdal (second half of the 15th century, Church of Norway) Haltdalen, Sør-Trøndelag (1170–1179, museum, Trondheim, moved) Hedalen, Oppland (1163, Church of Norway) Heddal, Telemark (beginning of the 13th century, Church of Norway) Høyjord, Vestfold (second half of the 12th century, Church of Norway) Hegge, Oppland (1216, Church of Norway) Hopperstad, Sogn og Fjordane (1130-50, society) Høre, Oppland (1180, Church of Norway) Kaupanger, Sogn og Fjordane (1125-50, Church of Norway) Kvernes, Møre og Romsdal (second half of the 14th century, society) Lom, Oppland (second half of the 12th century, Church of Norway) Lomen, Oppland (1179, Church of Norway) Nore, Nore og Uvdal, Buskerud (1167, society) Øye, Oppland (second half of the 12th century, Church of Norway, moved, reconstructed) Reinli, Oppland (1190, Church of Norway) Ringebu, Oppland (first quarter of the 13th century, Church of Norway?) Rødven, Møre og Romsdal (c1200, society) Røldal, Hordaland (first half of the 13th century, Church of Norway) Rollag, Rollag, Buskerud (second half of the 12th century, Church of Norway) Torpo, Ål, Buskerud (1192, society) Undredal, Sogn og Fjordane (mid 12th century, Church of Norway) Urnes, Sogn og Fjordane (1131, society) Uvdal, Andebu, Buskerud (1168, society) Vang (c1200, moved to Poland) The newly tarred 12th century church of Hopperstad in its landscape setting
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