"Vík" and Viðey - Agriculture and Monastic life

In the period from 1200 to 1750, farms, large and small, were dotted about the area which is now the city of Reykjavík. The landowners of Reykjavík manor, often called simply Vík (= Bay, Reykjavík = Smoky Bay), practised traditional animal husbandry and agriculture, along with fishing. In the early part of the period, little is written about the farmers of Vík, but late medieval sources indicate that they were fairly prosperous farmers, district leaders and parliamentary delegates, although the estate was not classified as a magnate's manor. The church was located opposite the farmhouse on modern Aðalstræti (now a small public garden, Fógetagarðurinn). There appears to have been a church at Vík at least since 1200, and probably longer.

After the death of the last independent landowner of Reykjavík in the early 17th century, the estate was purchased by the crown. Power and trade had become consolidated at the south of Faxaflói Bay in the southwest, where the monastery, church and king had accumulated estates. In 1346, the royal governor's residence was established at the estate of Bessastaðir. An Augustinian monastery was founded in 1226 on the island of Viðey; it flourished for the next few centuries, and became one of Iceland's wealthiest religious houses. The monastery church was dedicated to the Virgin Mary, and the monks sang divine service there every day. The monastery had an excellent library, and was a centre of monastic study, and books were written there. In the late Middle Ages at least, it was probably a centre of pilgrimage on the principal holy days. Many renowned men were priors or abbots of the Viðey monastery, such as Styrmir Kárason the Wise, Steinmóður Bárðarson, officialis at Skálholt Cathedral, and Ögmundur Pálsson, later Bishop of Skálholt.

When the Reformation had taken place in Denmark, Didrik von Minden, acting on behalf of the King's representative, seized the monastery on Whit Sunday 1539. His men sacked the monastery and attacked the monks. When the Reformation was completed in Iceland in 1550, the Viðey monastery was dissolved, and its possessions passed to the king. After this the estate was run from Bessastaðir, and a home for aged people was also operated on the island.

Archaeological excavations carried out on Viðey island by Reykjavík Museum in 1987-1995 have revealed interesting finds, many of them from the monastery, including rare wax tablets.