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| Keywords: Fortifications at Larkoul (JW Edy plate 65).jpg Artwork Creator John William Edy en Fortifications at Larkoul No LXV FORTIFICATIONS AT LARKOUL From the present remains of these fortifications it appears that they were originally of no great extent but very strong and well adapted for defence and for the protection of the neighbouring inhabitants in case of need They are situated on the top of the continental rocks at the summit of a precipice having within range of their guns the whole of the harbour with its east and west entrances The interior is a quadrangle of which the area is about 400 square yards it is encompassed by a wall composed of large stones 20 feet thick well cemented with mortar appear ing on the three sides next the country to have been 20 feet high ; on the outside there is a broad moat or ditch at present nearly filled with the fragments of the dilapidated walls A strong embankment of stones and earth cannon proof rises on the inside to nearly the height of the ramparts It has only one entrance which is toward the village as may in its mutilated state be seen like a gap through the wall on the right of the picture The angular wall on the foreground extends entirely along the verge of the precipice exactly opposite the west entrance Part of the harbour and its east entrance are seen at the low point of the rock over the three houses beyond which is the Fiord and the large Isthmus near Mos from the point of which the ferry boat sails to the west of Norway as already mentioned I was surprised to find a place of such infinite importance in so neglected a state choaked up with rubbish and the well filled with stones There is no other harbour so safe on the Fiord when vessels have once entered and a little repair of the works would render it untenable for an enemy In one of the angles directly in front is seen the entrance to a small vaulted chamber with a remarkable perpendicular stone on its top of which a poor aged misanthrope has taken possession He is a cobbler by trade and has bestowed great pains and labour on his retreat to convert it into what he calls a dwelling which he has inhabited many years in solitary and miserable seclusion On each side of a door of rough boards an old broken glass casement with rags stuffed between the leads forms the window; in a corner is a heap of the dead leaves of the fir which is used as a bed over which an old piece of well-worn sailcloth forms the coverlid; two large stones which fell from the roof have supplied chair and table ; a small hearth with a hole above it for a chimney two crutches a hatchet and a clasp knife make up the the rest of the accommodations The wretched tenant carries his tattered wardrobe perpetually on his back with belts exactly according to the ancient Norwegian costume; his beard is perfectly white and long his eyes are good and his frame shews the remains of athletic strength ; he looks very like old Drakenberg who lived to the great age of 146 lxva 1 Drakenberg was totally blind in the latter part of his life and his age being doubted he angrily travelled on foot begging his way from Copenhagen to Drontheim and back again to obtain the register of his nativity and prove the fact On his return being vexed at the unbelief of his townsmen he indignantly threw down the paper with these emphatical words What do you think of me now 1 lxva The portrait of this patriarch is in our possession and he may be classed as the third old Man in Europe; viz Jenkins 169; Parr 152; Drakenberg 146 Collapse bottom http //urn nb no/URN NBN no-nb_digibok_2011072910001 Boydell's picturesque scenery of Norway London 1820 Plate no 65 p 333 in scanned copy no-nb_digibok_2011072910001 PD-Art-100 John William Edy Boydell's picturesque scenery of Norway Fortifications in Norway Larkollen Chimneys in Norway | ||||
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