History of Osen

The house, known as Storehuset, was built in the 1820s as the rectory for the Reverend Rennord. Mr T Potts from Coreen Castle, Ireland, took a 25 year lease of fishing from the Rennord family in 1870.  The salmon at that time could not negotiate the waterfall so Mr Potts set in motion the building of the ladder, an amazing piece of engineering which has stood the test of time and is the oldest ladder in Norway.  With the salmon now having access to the upper reaches of the river and better spawning grounds, Mr Potts negotiated with the farmers on both banks of the river to have full fishing rights off their land with access from the road.  In 1878 he bought Storehuset from Mr Rennord. It is this inclusive packet of the house and river which has been handed down and which is enjoyed today.

In 1896 the farm, including the house and fishing were sold to Olav Mo of Foerde, Mr Potts’s caretaker when he was not in Norway.  Shortly after Mr Mo sold the house and fishing to a shipping magnate in Bergen.

On the opposite bank below the waterfall, the Lervik family let their fishing to a Mr C Thomas Stanford, member of parliament for Brighton, England, who fished there for many years.  He built a fishing lodge high above the river, now replaced by a newer building. In 1903 he published a charming account of his days at Osen, entitled A River of Norway, a book still worth reading by fishermen intending to fish at Osen.  The book can now be found on the internet and an original hardback edition is kept in the house.

In 1935 Storehuset and the fishing at Osen was bought by Mr Rolf Olsen, great grandfather of the present owner, Mr Per Karsten Wahl of Drammen, Norway.