Background
Anchersensvei is a quiet road in the part of Drammen called Austad. It starts off from Austad Gård, a beautiful old mansion now owned by Drammens Museum. Present buildings dates back to 1808, but there are references to the site as far back as in the 13.century. 

The name "Austad" takes us at least back to before the Middle Age, The first part of the name is assumed to be the male name Audi, who probably established the first farm, 'Audastadir'. 

In 1359, shortly after the Black Plague one known farmer was Erling Reidarson. Not much is known untill 1639 when Nils Larssøn was tenant farmer, with 4 horses and 15 cows... 

Count Hannibal Sehested was the owner from around 1640. The king, Fredrik III, ackquired the estate i 1651, 
and in 1675 Count Griffenfeld became the owner. 
Various owners in the following years, among them one who possibly shot his wife, another was a customs official who ended up in jail... 
 

Through marriage Peder von Cappelen became the owner in 1793, and built the present buildings as a summer residence in the period 1808-1813. It was allegedly built by swedish prisoners of war, (I like that!), with a swedish artillery captain as architect. 
Mr. Cappelen was probably one of the most influential men in the history of Drammen. He ran a variety of businesses, among them the iron foundries Eidsfos Verk and Jarlsberg Verk. More on iron foundries in another web-page. 

Austad Gaard was sold to the local authorities in 1931 and housed the County Council untill 1963, when it was donated to Drammens Museum. A voluntary supporting group called Austad Gårds venner was established in 1993. A great effort has been done by Austad Gaards venner in order to preserve and maintain these old buildings. 

The road is named after Arne N. Anchersen (1877-1936), who was Chairman of the County Council of Skoger. In 1964 Skoger County was included in Drammen, thus giving the inhabitants in Anchersensvei the right to call themselves Drammensere ! 

Aquavita
Once a year there is a national evaluation of various brands of the famous Norwegian liquer "Akevitt" taking place at Austad Gaard. 

Incidently, the term Linje Aquavita has strong links to Drammen by the company "Brodersen Destillation", founded in 1864. In 1907 they sent their first shipment of "Linje Aquavita" to Australia, after having discovered that this journey improved the quality of the Aquavit, due to temperature-changes and the ships movements. Having passed the equatorial line it was called "Linje Aquavita". 
. 

This old label proudly states 
that the 15 year old Aquavita had been destilled twice by 
N. Brodersen Destillation in Drammen. 
 
 

The drinking of Aquavita has been known to take place in Anchersensvei as a gesture to our cultural and industrial ancestors... 
 
 

Local science 
 

For the benefit of the crypto-zoologists, attention is drawn to a phenomenon observed exclusively in Anchersensvei at irregular intervals. It has been determined that this obviously is a Local Gnome, normally looking like this:
This Local Gnome is usually observed at the roadside of Anchersensvei at twilight time. However, on Sundays it appears three-dimensional and in full color, like this:

 Geography
The photograph above shows the upper part of Anchersensvei,  an oval loop (hence the logo!), the rest 
of the road runs downwards alongside Austadveien . 
Red frame and arrow on map below shows area in photograph. 

Click map to see larger portion of Drammen [99kb]

'Ancherianerne'
An ultralocal spiritual movement called Ancherians, has ancient roots in Anchersensvei, their purpose to protect and promote the ideas,  values and interests of their members. 

Gatefesten, 1998  (The 'Streetparty' 1998) 
Occasionally we close down the road and arrange a barbeque for the neighbours, see photojournalism below... 

Gatefesten, 1995  (The 'Streetparty' 1995)