Early history

Birkendegår is first mentioned in 1363 when it was a fief under Roskiulde Bishopric. It was than called Byrchinge and later referred to as Birkingegaard. The current name is most likely a corruption of the original name. At the Reformation in 1536, Birkendegård was confiscated by the crown along with all other property of the Catholic church. Due to its small size, it was placed under Kalundborg Castle.^[1]

In 1672, Birkendegård was granted to Jørgen Bielke as compensation for his losses during the Second Northern War. Two years later he was granted permission to incorporate the estate as a manor by dissolving all the farms in the surrounding village. This process was however not completed until 1700. Jørgen Bielke had been instrumental in protecting Norway against the Swedish army during the war. He was also the owner of nearby Avnsøgård.^[2]

In 1886, Birkendegård was acquired by Jørgen Hansen. After his widow's death, it returned to the crown. In 1693, it was ceded to Jørgen Bielke's daughter, Sophie Amalie Bielke, his only surviving child, in return for her giving up all her father's pending demands against the crown.

In 1700, Sophie Amalie Bielke sold Birkendegård to Johan Christopher von Schønbach. He had studied law and served as amtman of Kalundborg, Sæbygård, Drahsholm and Holbæk counties. On his death, his heirs unsuccessfully tried to sell the estate in three different auctions. They ultimately decided to cede the estate to their 23-year-old relative Johan Christopher von Schønbach. Just two years later, he sold the estate to Terkel Terkelsen.^[3]

Lerche family

In 1743, Birkendegård was acquired by Christian Lerche. He became one of the largest landowners in the country. In 1755, he was granted permission to turn his holdings into a stamhus with the effect that they could not be divided between heirs, sold or pledged. Christian Lerche died in 1757, His widow kept the estate until her death. When their son, Christian Cornelius Lerche, who had inherited Lerchenborg in 1804, was ennobled with rank of count, on 26 May 1818, Birkendegård was combined with Lerchenborg and a number of other estates to form the Vountship of Lerchenborg (Grevskabet Lerchenborg). Prior to his death in 1952, Christian Cornelius Lerche had applied for dissolution of the stamhus. All land that was not part of the countship was therefore divided between his four sons. Birkendegård was passed down to his son Vilhelm Cornelius Magnus Lerche. He was succeeded by his own son, Gustav Lerche, who was an estimated farmer.

Faye family

In 1921, Birkendegård was acquired by two brothers named Jacobsen. Later that same they sold it to Aage Faye. He was the son of Gerhard Faye, a pioneer of the sugar beet industry on Lolland-Falster, whom he had succeed as manager of Nakskov Sugar Factory. Birkendegård was after his death passed to his eldest son Gerhard Faye and then to his grandson Jørgen Faye.