Husvik Villa Restoration Complete

The team of Norwegian craftsmen have completed successfully in early March 2006 the restoration of the Manager's Villa at Husvik.

It is a magnificent achievement by the team who have worked so hard in some challenging circumstances. Grateful thanks go to all those involved in the project.

* Torolf Stenersen * Torfinn Myhre * Svein Erik Moe * Henrik Kulms * Knut Evensen * Thomas Blix * Asbjørn Grødem * Espen Andreassen * Hans Kristian Røkenes

Norway played a leading role in the whaling industry on South Georgia that ended some 50 years ago. The old whaling stations stand in rusting ruins as nature reclaims them. However one or two buildings still remain and are used today by scientific and other expeditions.

One building is the Norwegian Manager’s Villa at Husvik. The South Georgia Heritage Trust with a branch in Norway, has now restored this important Norwegian building.

In October HMS ENDURANCE loaded all the Norwegian stores on board in Portsmouth. She then transported them to South Georgia and unloaded them at Husvik by helicopter in December.

The group of Norwegian craftsmen arrived on Friday 10th February with the fishery patrol Sigma. During the voyage with Sigma they saw lots of whales. South Georgia is now a whale sanctuary. One group of whales close to Shag Rock numbered 20 or more.

When the Norwegian group arrived in Husvik the wind was 50-60 m/sec. They continued to experience high winds, which did disrupt work at times, particularly on the roof.

They have renewed the cladding on the walls and the roof; windows have been refurbished and the buildings (Villa and Radio Shack) repainted. Mr. Sternersen reported that there was a lot of rotten wood – beneath the outer cladding. Now the work is complete, the building is once more be available for use by visiting scientists and expeditions.

The project has been made possible through funding donated by the Norwegian county of Vestfold and the Sandefjord municipality.

Local companies in Norway also gave much generous support to the project (see below). Logistic support was provided by the Norwegian OVDS ship “NordNorge” and the British Royal Navy ship “HMS Endurance”.

The Norwegian group finish have mounted a plaque in the entrance of the building bearing the following text:

"A team of Norwegian craftsmen from Sandefjord restored the Husvik Manager’s Villa and Radio Shack in February 2006 on behalf of the South Georgia Heritage Trust. Funds for the Villa’s restoration were donated by Vestfold County, Norway. Materials and paint were donated by Norwegian businesses in the Sandefjord area. HMS ENDURANCE transported the materials from Portsmouth and delivered them to Husvik in December 2005."

Grateful thanks go to:

Vestfold fylkeskommune
GSGSSI
Ofoten Vesterålen dampskibsselskab
Byggmakker
Jotun
Rotary
Jotron Electronics as
Hotell Atlantic
Globus trading
Byggmester Torolf Stenersen
Byggmester Svein Erik Moe
Byggmester Torfinn Myhre
Andreas Stiehl
Brødrene Berggren
Peisovnspesialisten
HMS Endurance
Johan Evensen & Sønner
Rolf Meum
Ica Meny Norge a/s
BL Shipping
Stokke glass
Vestfold kobber og blikk
Fritzøe handel
Stempelgravøren"

Asbjørn Grødem, Thomas Blix, Svein Erik Moe, Hans Kristian Røkenes, His Excellency Howard Pearce, Henrik Kulms, Torolf Stenersen and Knut
Evensen.