Grove, Jens Pedersen

Biography in relation to Skagen

Already in the early spring of 1627, in Skagen - in addition to the old lantern lighthouse - there had been for some time a brand new lighthouse, which like the "parrot" was an open bonfire. It was a tilting lighthouse built by Jens Pedersen Grove from Elsinore.

The Grove family originally came from what was then Grove parish. Jens Pedersen Grove was a clerk at Varbjerg Castle, but he was given a rather unusual position with a very special title, he became a "fyrbøder", that is "Royal Lighthouse Keeper". Mayestets lighthouse keeper over all Danish streams".

Denmark became involved in the conflict known as the Imperial War. Jutland and Skagen were occupied and from autumn 1627 to spring 1629 Skagen's lighthouse was not lit.

Because of the war, the future of the lighthouse was delayed. It came to rest on two decisions, firstly that there should be a switch from open fires to coal, and secondly - on 1 January 1931 - that the lighthouse service should be privatised.

Jens Grove then became the lighthouse manager for all Danish lighthouses. For an annual payment, he was to keep the lighthouses and pay all their expenses. The very next year, the seafarers were so satisfied that they offered to pay extra lighthouse money, and Jens Grove's rent was raised by a good third.