About the Shipyard
At Bratteklev you can walk through maritime history from the 1870s at an almost complete and untouched old shipyard. Here you will still find material traces and memories from an important part of Southern Norway’s history and Arendal’s maritime heritage.
Bratteklev is a classic example of a shipyard from the golden age of sailing ships in the latter half of the 19th century. Shipping operations were run from the residence, while sailing vessels were built on the slipway right next door. The ships carried goods across the world, from Australia in the south to Newfoundland in the north.
Before the financial crash in Arendal in 1886, there were many such shipyards. Today, none remain. Bratteklev was listed and protected by the Directorate for Cultural Heritage in 1993.
History
Bratteklev was established by Ole Bertinius Sørensen, born into a family where men for generations had been seafarers. This opened opportunities at the time. In 1863 the shipping company O. B. Sørensen & Co. was founded, and in 1865 he purchased the Bratteklev property. It quickly became a base for shipping, shipbuilding, business, and civic engagement.
