History
Elverhøi is located in a region of Norway where human habitation began through reindeer hunting 11,000 years ago. As farming practices developed permanent settlements appeared in the Sunndal valley and the area is a cradle of spectacular iron age finds and Viking burial grounds. The valley remained a trading route between the uplands and the coast until 1850s when it was opened to the world by British fishermen and in the early 20th century to the development of its hydroelectric power potential. The resulting power was used to underpin the construction of an aluminium smelter during and after WW2 and economic benefit this delivered has led to the opening up of the area to a wide range of outdoor tourist activities.
Barbara Arbuthnott
Elverhøi was built in 1868 by a pioneering Scottish woman called Barbara Arbuthnott who first set foot in Norway in 1862 with her third husband, Hon William Arbuthnott, a passionate fisherman and one of a group of early fishing ‘tourists’ to the region. After several summer visits her flagging marriage and the death of her only son (by her second husband) led her to divorce Arbuthnott and take up permanent residence in the Sunndal valley.
Barbara was a wealthy woman in her own right and she proceeded to throw herself into Norwegian life with gusto learning the language, and introducing a lavish lifestyle and philanthropic energy into the valley never seen before, or since. She introduced midwifery techniques to local women, bred hens, ran local shooting and hunting competitions and was extraordinarily generous, entertaining overseas visitors but also supporting local people during times of hardship notably rebuilding homes after major avalanches.
In 1868, she decided to build her own house which was named Elverhøi. It was much grander than anything hitherto seen in the valley and was designed to be a comfortable summer base for visiting friends and fishermen from the UK. In winter she would pack up her entourage and either return to Scotland or move to the Mediterranean before returning again in early spring. This energetic life all came to a shuddering halt in 1890 when the source of her income – Robertson Bank, went bankrupt. Within a few short months the contents of the house were auctioned by local bailiffs and the house itself was sold to Ernest Pretyman a very keen and regular fisherman who was married to a daughter of the Earl of Bradford. Pretyman used the house to entertain fishing friends and he sold it in 1919 to his brother-in-law, The Hon Harry Bridgeman, grandfather of the present owner.
Barbara’s story is known throughout Norway and still celebrated locally today, most notably through the annual production of a renowned muscial which plays to packed houses in Sunndalsøra every June.
