Ovengaden oven Vandet

Facts

Housing for the working classes

By Jacob Bjerring-Hansen, Direktør for Bornholms Museum (12 stories)

In the middle of the 19th century, behind its embankments, Copenhagen was crowded with people, houses were unhealthy and property speculators were making a fortune. The Hygiene Movement" was formed by doctors and priests wishing to improve conditions and the morality of the poor. In 1850-51, philanthropist and priest Carl Holger Visby from the Church of Our Saviour, and doctors Emil Hornemann and C.E. Fenger founded a company that was to build workers' housing in Christianshavn and collected share capital of about 50,000 rix-dollars. A total of three buildings were built, housing a total of 64 homes for 248 residents. The homes were for workers who earned enough to save up and become owners after 30 years. "

Public place

Selected entry

Workers' story: Morning in Christianshavn" "

Story written by Jacob Bjerring-Hansen

Time / Periode 1852 1900

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It's five o'clock in the morning. In the kitchen of the small one-bedroomed flat, Dorothea Frederikke Lassen is making porridge at the cooker. She's standing rather awkwardly because her two sons of eight and ten between her feet are waking up. She, her husband and two daughters sleep in the living room. The large room is for entertaining only. One hour later, the flat is empty, as her husband, Christian, is at work and the children are at their morning jobs. Dorothea herself works as a washerwoman from six in the morning until eight or nine at night for the rich masters and mistresses. She prepares the food on Sundays and her daughter is responsible for heating the food when her father comes home for lunch and dinner.