Relatively Speaking 2
I knew the Danish great grandfather’s mother and family had lived at Vallensbaek, a small community in southern Copenhagen as some births and census returns appear in early records. It is still a rural community albeit with a substantial housing development on its coastal side. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vallensb%C3%A6k
A kind staff member at the hostel checked the travel details so off I went. When I disembarked from the train the appropriate number bus was just pulling in so hopped aboard and told the driver my destination to receive an acknowledging nod and grunt. We hadn’t gone too far through roads of rich green trees that I had doubts about it. When we reached the turnaround point at Ballerup I knew for certain as it was north of the station and I had intended going south. Eventually we returned to the origin, the driver pointed out the correct start point and I started again. However, census returns show that the great grandfather’s maternal grandmother was born at Ballerup so the trip was not entirely wasted. No doubt it was rural in the 1700/1800s but the little I saw from the front seat of a bus was unremarkable residential.
Streets in Ballerup
The village of Vallensbaek was reached through more rich greenery and countryside. It’s a very pretty village with swathes of green grass, a village pond with resident ducks, neat tidy houses some of which were thatched and an ancient church and churchyard now with a modern round glass church alongside it.
Vallensbaek Pond
The church was closed and has been for some time due to fire but it was possible to see through some of the windows to just make out some of the wall paintings and the carved wooden baptismal font. The churchyard was neat, tidy and peaceful. With few exceptions I saw no tombstones post late 1980s. I had not expected to see family tombstones as census returns reveal that our ancestors were very poor. The tombstones were an eclectic mix of sizes and styles and many had nick knacks around them.
Vallensbaek Church
Through window of old church
The new church was a complete contrast from the original one built in the 12th century. It too was closed but I was able to see a little through the glass walls. Trees have been planted around it and time will soften the difference.
New and Old
