Hedehusene

History

The flat and fertile moraine landscape between Roskilde, Køge and Copenhagen was since the Middle Ages known as Hedeboegnen or simply Heden ("The Heath"). The name was merely a reference to the flat and open character of the landscape at a time when much of Denmark was covered by forest while it was not covered by heath in the ecological sense of the word. Villages in the area included Fløng, Kallerup, Baldersbrønde and Marbjerg. A road had since the 13th century connected Copenhagen and Roskilde. In 1641, Christian IV ordered the construction of a new, private road, Roskilde Kongevej, a so-called kongevej, which was completed in 1642. A house known as Kongens Hedehus ("The King's Heath House"), often referred to simply as Hedehuset ("The Heath House") built for a Vogt (foged) who was responsible for overseeing that only royalty or people authorized by the king used the road. He was instructed to prosecute trespassers and shoot their horses. A special key was made for the gate at the Heath House and another one for the gate at Røde Port ("Red Gate") in Roskilde. The house was located where Tværvej 1 in Hedehusene is today. In 1658, the Heath House was converted into an inn after the road was opened to other travellers at the end of the Swedish Wars. It was joined by two more inns at the site in 1682 and 1702. They initially operated without licenses since they were located too close to Roskilde to obtain a royal privilege. From 1733, they were licensed on condition that all beer and Akvavit was purchased in Roskilde and that they paid a tax of 4 rigsdaler to the city. Roskilde Kongevej gradually fell into despair and two of the inns had to close when the new Roskildevej opened in 1776. Hedehusene railway station opened when the Copenhagen–Roskilde railway line was…