Inns and Guesthouses

Many of those living along the main travel routes were likely able to host travelers, serve food and drink, and offer lodging for a small fee. However, if such activity was to be conducted on a somewhat larger scale, a royal license was required. These licenses were issued by the Rentekammer (Treasury Chamber) in Copenhagen, likely based on recommendations from local officials. At the same time, the innkeepers and guesthouse operators were required to pay an annual fee, which the bailiff was responsible for collecting. Therefore, the archive of the County Governor in Buskerud contains considerable information about who was engaged in such activity.

From the Rentekammer’s order, dated 3 November 1759, to the bailiff Egger Madsen Fisker:

Since it has graciously pleased His Royal Majesty to grant the following Royal Licenses for the operation of inns and guesthouses within the jurisdictions of Hurum, Røyken, Eiker, Lier, and Buskerud, entrusted to him, subject to payment of an annual fee in addition to what has previously been ordered or may be ordered henceforth, namely:

Eiker Parish
16. Nils Sutterud from the settlement of Sutterud –                     1 rigsdaler
17. The widow of the late citizen Augustinus – from Lille Steenset –            48 skilling
18. Peder Augustinusen – from the settlement Sanden under Temte –        18 skilling
19. The resident of the holding Frognes under Haug Vicarage –              48 skilling
20. Lars Thosen from the settlement Bacherud near Vestfossen –           24 skilling
21. Tore Clausen, innkeeping on the Fossesholm side –                    1 rigsdaler
22. Rasmus Schiestad on the Semb side –                           1 rigsdaler 48 skilling
23. Peder Augustinussen – likewise –                                   1 rigsdaler
24. Ingeborg Sperren – likewise –                                    1 rigsdaler

By Hokksund on the eastern side of the river
25. Richardt Gram –                                            1 rigsdaler
26. The widow of Peder Andersen –                                1 rigsdaler