Grini

{{Short description|District in northeastern Bærum, Norway}} [[File:Grinibrua.jpg|thumb|[[Røa Line]] bridge over Grinidammen]] [[File:Grini Mølle.jpg|thumb|''Grini mølle'', the former mill]] [[File:Grinifossen 005.jpg|thumb|Grinifossen]]

'''Grini''' is a district in northeastern [[Bærum Municipality]], [[Norway]].

==Concentration camp== {{Main|Grini detention camp}} The name Grini is best known from the concentration camp of the same name, but this camp lay further west and had no actual connection to the Grini area.<ref name=eiksmarka>{{cite book|last=Espeland|first=Gard|title=Neste stopp... Eiksmarka! Eiksmarka vel 1950–2000|publisher=Eiksmarka vel|location=Eiksmarka|date=2002|page=110|isbn=82-996193-0-0|language=Norwegian}}</ref>

==History== The name Grini is a variant of ''Granvin'' ([[Granvin Municipality|a placename used elsewhere]]), and stems from [[spruce]] trees in the area.<ref name=asbl>{{cite encyclopedia|year=2006|title=Grini|encyclopedia=Asker og Bærum leksikon|publisher=Forlaget for by- og bygdehistorie|location=Drammen|first=Per Otto|last=Borgen|page=180|language=Norwegian|isbn=82-91649-10-3}}</ref> The [[Old Norse language|Old Norse]] form was Grǫnin.<ref name=snl>{{cite encyclopedia|year=2007|title=Grini – tettbebyggelse i Bærum|encyclopedia=[[Store norske leksikon]]|editor=Henriksen, Petter|publisher=Kunnskapsforlaget|location=Oslo|url=http://www.snl.no/Grini/tettbebyggelse_i_B%C3%A6rum|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130222204858/http://www.snl.no/Grini/tettbebyggelse_i_B%C3%A6rum|url-status=dead|archive-date=22 February 2013|accessdate=25 August 2009}}</ref> The farm Grini is known at least since 1348, when it was divided into a northern and a southern part. Both farms belonged to the [[Church of Norway]], but the crown usurped the property following the [[Protestant Reformation]]. The dwelling house was erected in 1658, three years before the property was sold from the crown to a private person. Between the mid-seventeenth century and the mid-nineteenth century the property was owned by the Leuch, Anker and Wedel-Jarlsberg families. It was bought by Ole Ellefsen Gjedsø in 1854; he later became mayor of Bærum. Grini was the easternmost farm in [[Bærum Municipality]], which at the time bordered [[Aker Municipality]].<ref name=asbl/> (now it is part of [[Oslo Municipality]], following a 1948 municipal merger)

The border was the river Lysakerelva, and along it the Wedel-Jarlsberg family continued owning property. A smaller industry had developed alongside the river, including a mill, sawmill, brickworks and a lime burner.<ref name=asbl/> The sawmill was discontinued in 1888 due to a new sawmill being built further north at [[Fossum, Bærum|Fossum]].<ref name="asbl"/> The brickworks was closed in 1902, and the mill in 1904. From 1913 to 1946 a power station operated in place of the mill; it later became a furniture factory.<ref name=basbl>{{cite encyclopedia|year=2008|title=Grini|encyclopedia=Budstikkas store Asker og Bærum-leksikon|publisher=Kunnskapsforlaget|location=Oslo|editor=Bakken, Tor Chr.|pages=210–211|language=Norwegian|isbn=978-82-573-1534-4}}</ref> Its purpose was to provide power for the industry at Fossum, but excess power was sold to locals.<ref>Espeland, 2002: p. 22</ref>

Grini has lent its name to topographic features in this part of the Lysakerelva river. Grinidammen is the name of a small lake north of the waterfall Grinifossen. Grini Bridge runs over the small lake.<ref>{{cite encyclopedia|year=2006|title=Grinidammen|encyclopedia=Asker og Bærum leksikon|publisher=Forlaget for by- og bygdehistorie|location=Drammen|first=Per Otto|last=Borgen|page=182|language=Norwegian|isbn=82-91649-10-3}}</ref><ref>{{cite encyclopedia|year=2006|title=Grinifossen|encyclopedia=Asker og Bærum leksikon|publisher=Forlaget for by- og bygdehistorie|location=Drammen|first=Per Otto|last=Borgen|page=182|language=Norwegian|isbn=82-91649-10-3}}</ref><ref>{{cite encyclopedia|year=2006|title=Grini bro|encyclopedia=Asker og Bærum leksikon|publisher=Forlaget for by- og bygdehistorie|location=Drammen|first=Per Otto|last=Borgen|page=181|language=Norwegian|isbn=82-91649-10-3}}</ref>

The area around the Cotter's farm Bratli was built up in the 1930s,<ref name=basbl/> and the southern part of the Grini district was built up after World War II. The hill Grinilunden was used for a chapel.<ref name=asbl/>

==Transportation== The road ''Griniveien'', a part of the [[Norwegian National Road 168]], cuts through the area. It was named so in 1926.<ref>{{cite encyclopedia|year=2008|title=Griniveien|encyclopedia=Budstikkas store Asker og Bærum-leksikon|publisher=Kunnskapsforlaget|location=Oslo|editor=Bakken, Tor Chr.|page=212|language=Norwegian|isbn=978-82-573-1534-4}}</ref> The river crossing was moved northwards in 1978, as a new bridge was opened in 1974. A part of the old road was downgraded to a local road, moving the National Road further away from the residential area.<ref>Espeland, 2002: p. 102</ref> Petitions have been made to move the road further north, but to no avail yet.<ref>Espeland, 2002: p. 105</ref> Mainly, it is the area south of this road that has been developed. North of the road, some land has been used as a [[golf course]] which was inaugurated in June 2002.

The area was served by [[Grini (station)|Grini]] station on the [[Oslo Metro]] between 1948 and 1995. Early plans for an extension of the line, then called the [[Røa Line|Smestad Line]], involved Fossum, but later plans did not include this northern point. Construction of the extension into Bærum started in 1941, and involved erecting a railroad bridge over Lysakerelva. At times, the bridge would be been left unfinished for the time being, due to [[German occupation of Norway|wartime]] hardships concerning economy and supplies.<ref name=p94>Espeland, 2002: pp. 94-95</ref> Locals then used the half-finished pillars as diving platforms.<ref>Espeland, 2002: p. 17</ref> Grini station was finally opened in 1948, and was the terminus until 1951 when [[Lijordet (station)|Lijordet]] (terminus) and [[Eiksmarka (station)|Eiksmarka]] stations came. In 1972 [[Lijordet (station)|Østerås station]] was added.<ref name=p94/> In 1995, several stations on the line were rebuilt. Some were removed as they could no longer conform to the new standards of three cars (e.g. [[Volvat (station)|Volvat]]). Grini station was discontinued as well; it fell victim to low traffic because many passengers chose to walk over the Oslo border to [[Ekraveien (station)|Ekraveien station]], from where the fare was cheaper.<ref>Espeland, 2002: p. 97</ref>

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== *{{Commons category-inline}}

[[Category:Neighbourhoods of Bærum]]