Every design for Porsgrunn

Porsgrunn takes its name from the bog myrtle, pors in Norwegian, that once grew in the marshes on the west bank, where the nuns of Gimsøy kloster came to gather it. The town sits at the mouth of the river where it meets the Frierfjorden, with Skien directly to the north and Brevik further south.

Porselensmuseet keeps the work of Porsgrunds Porselænsfabrik, one of the industries that grew up as the age of sail faded. In the early twentieth century this was Norway's leading town for sailing ships, and it was once home port to Skomvær, the largest in the country. DuVerden sjøfartsmuseum og vitensenter carries that seafaring story on, while the works at Herøya still employ much of the town.

For anyone from here, home is the river with a church on each bank, Østre and Vestre, and Jørleif Uthaug's Amphitrite, the wave and the sea birds, raised in honour of Porsgrunn's life at sea.