Tyristrand

Tyristrand Church in Buskerud, Norway

Tyristrand Train Station

Tyristrand is a former municipality in Buskerud county, Norway.

Background

Tyristrand was created by a split from Hole on 1 July 1916. On 1 January 1964 Tyristrand was merged with the municipalities Hole, Hønefoss, Norderhov and Ådal to form the new municipality of Ringerike. Before the merger Tyristrand had a population of 1,714. The village Tyristrand is located on the western shore of Tyrifjorden, between Hønefoss and Vikersund.

Randsfjord Line

The Norwegian legislature decided in 1863 to build the Randsfjord Line railway system. The first stretch of the line opened in 1866 between Vikersund and Drammen. During 1867 Skjærdalen and Tyristrand were connected to the line and finally in 1868 Hønefoss Station opened and the line could stretch all the way to Randsfjorden. The line was the fifth railway line to be built in Norway.

Tyristrand Church

Using the drawings of Architect Christian Grosch, the Tyristrand Church was built during the years 1856–1857. Grosch was born in Copenhagen, but he lived most of his adult life in Kristiania (Oslo). He designed several well known buildings that are still standing, and this church is one of these. The building site for the church including space for a graveyard surrounding it and a grassy meadow were given by Consul Bache of Drammen, who owned Skjaerdalen's ground at the time.

The name

Tyristrand derived its name from its location near Tyrifjorden, Norway's fifth largest lake. Tyristrand is a compound word derived from two Old Norse terms. The first part of the name is derived from the word tyri meaning old or dead pine (wood). The second part of the name is derived from the word strand means beach or shore.