In the first cell on the first floor cell corridor you will find the Lensmann’s office. Most of the objects were donated to the museum by Eldrid Straume. The objects were used by Gloppen lensmann’s office in the 1930s by lensmann Jacob Straume.

The lensmann profession goes all the way back to the 13th century in Norway. A lensmann is a public servant with various responsibilities. One of the first tasks was to help the sysselmann (a type of magistrate) with collecting fines and taxes. A lensmann was chosen from among the local farmers and the position was often hereditary. The position also had policing duties. The title no longer exists in Norway as of 2021.

The office in the museum looks like it might have done in the local lensmann’s office, at the lensmann’s own farm. In 1944 the lensmann position was officially incorporated into the police.