Let’s take a journey through the fascinating history of how Norway’s regiment exercises evolved. From churches, to tent house and now, to the regimental arsenal buildings we have today, there has been quite a journey!
Starting in 1628 when Norway established its regular army, local regiments would conduct drills outside the church on Sundays. This went on until 1774 when changes were implemented that allowed for special parade grounds with annual musters of 12 days. This brought about the creation of tent to be used during these special exercises.
Today, those same tent have been replaced by regimental arsenal buildings that provide an even bigger opportunity for training and exercise. These modern-day assets have provided a great environment for both training and recruitment missions for many years now!
A Brief History of Norway’s Regular Army
You may not know it, but military drills have been a part of Norwegian culture since 1628, when the country established a regular army regiment. On Sundays, these troops would gather outside churches to practice their drills. With time, these gatherings moved to special exercise or parade grounds with annual musters of 12 days—all the while forging a unique and important cultural tradition.
At the grounds, “tent house” were erected and became very common in Norway. These houses served as regimental arsenals: a place for soldiers to secure weapons, ammunition and other military supplies before a battle. Thus, houses were essential for military success in Norway for centuries.
The Evolution of Drill Grounds
You’re ready to start regiment exercises, but where should you do it? For centuries, armies have been drilling outside churches on Sundays, but think about the difficulty with that! As time changed and more specialized equipment has been made available, troops all over the world have had to innovate. In Norway, the solution was to build “tent house,” a special exercise ground for regimental drills.
These houses are much more than just a building – they are a reminder of the strength of a regiment and its dedication to excellence. With the convenience of being able to hold drills in one place that can be easily accessed, soldiers could spend more time training and focusing on perfecting their skills rather than worrying about scouting out an adequate location. This is why they remain an important part of Norwegian military tradition today.
The Introduction of the Tent House
Did you know that in Norway, churches were once the spot of regiment exercises? It’s true! Up until 1774, after every Sunday sermon, local regiments would take to the streets for their drills. However, once the house came into play, these musters moved to more suitable grounds.
So what is a tent house? In Norway, a house is like a small regimental arsenal building—it provided temporary quarters for senior officers and storerooms for weapons and other equipment. And rather than just throwing up some tents, these one-story wooden structures were created specifically for drills and parades.
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Design
The tent varied in design from region to region and regiment to regiment. Some consisted of one long room with a double pitched roof while others had two rooms divided by an internal wall, each with its own gable roof. The walls were typically made of logs which had been smoothed and painted white – while the floor was made of hard-packed dirt or clay bricks.
Features
Alongside bunk beds for officers and weapon storage space, additional features included offices for commanding officers and a veranda where troops could rest during exercises. There were also sheds for horses at some sites—allowing troops to go on cavalry marches without having to travel far from home!
Tent House Designs and Features
Did you know that these houses were actually quite sophisticated designs? In fact, they were well planned structures, with an appropriate size and number of windows and doors. Each tent was equipped with benches, tables and chairs, as well as an altar – making them a great space for both exercises and services.
Roofs
Their roofs were usually built with a double pitch or gambrel style. This was to allow rainwater to easily fall off the roof and prevent it from gathering.
Tent House Sizes
The sizes of the tents varied according to the size of the company that was stationed at each post. Typically, a single company would be assigned to a tent, but if needed it could provide accommodation for two companies — then its size would be about 25x17m.
Wall Panels
The walls were usually made out of solid wooden panels with 4-point laths between them to ensure air ventilation throughout the structure. This allowed the troops to use their tent all year round regardless of bad weather conditions.
So next time you think about the traditional architecture of Norway, remember that its history doesn’t just include churches – it also includes these unique houses!
Tent House in Norway Today
Today, the tent are mostly used for recreational purposes such as camping and outdoor events. They are still found all over Norway, though they look a bit different than they did centuries ago—these days they’re made with durable precast concrete walls that can withstand the harshest weather conditions.
Precast concrete not only ensures longevity of these structures but also reduces maintenance costs. This durable material can resist natural wear and tear, and with regular maintenance, it will remain in perfect condition regardless of its age.
Plus, modern designs include attractive finishes that add even more visual appeal than what was possible back in the day.
Regardless of whether you’re using a tent house for camping or having an outdoor event, precast concrete has proven to be an excellent choice for all kinds of buildings in Norway—and you can rest assured that your structure will last for generations to come!
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