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Hvitarvellir
is a farm near the former road # 1 and the largest arch bridge of the
country, built in 1928 across River Hvita.
Is was an important estate during the latter part of the 19th
and the first part of the 20th century.
Farms Hvitarvellir, Ferjukot and Ferjubakki are among the very
few farms of the country, where the farmers still enjoy the traditional
rights of netting salmon in river estuaries.
The Sagas frequently mention an ancient trading post in the
estuary of River Hvita near Hvitarvellir and the river was used for
transport up to the confluence of River Thvera until 1930.
Ruins of the dwellings of the traders are near the Budarhofdi
mound by the estuary.
In
1751 a fire claimed seven lives at Hvitarvellir. Many believed, that the ghost Hvitarvellir-Skotta was
responsible. This female
ghost played tricks on the clergy of the parsonage and killed several
cow herders and cattle. Another
ghost, Stormhottur, was more benevolent and watched the hay on the
fields of Hvitarvellir.
One
of the sub-governors of the country, Stefan Stephensen, lived for a
while at Hvitarvellir. More
of his relatives occupied the estate during the most influential era of
this dynasty. A Scot, James
Ritchie, built a factory in Borgarnes in 1858 to conserve salmon. He moved it to the confluence of Rivers Hvita and Grimsa the
next year. This factory
employed many English and Icelandic workers for about 16 years. His endeavours reached as far as Akranes, now the largest
town in the western part of the country.
He used a small steamboat to transport raw materials and the
products. The operation was
discontinued in 1876 because of the increased competition and the export
of iced salmon.
The
French Baron and artist, Gauldréc de Boilleu, bought the estate in 1898
and moved there. He started the largest cattle breeding in the country and
built a cow shed for 40 heads of cattle in the capital. This house still stands on the corner of the streets
Hverfisgata and Baronstigur. He
owned the steamboat Hvita, which he used for transport between
Hvitarvellir and the capital. He
built a holiday house on Lake Langadalsvatn.
He committed suicide in London in 1901, when he supposedly was
trying to finance the establishment of a fisheries’ company. |