Man plans to recreate historic seat descent in Nýggjaberg

Jens Jákup Hansen is building a new bench and chair to restore the traditional seated descent in Nýggjaberg, reports Faroese broadcaster KVF.

Hansen said he was always curious about how people once lowered themselves down the steep cliffside path in the village. The method involved sitting on a chair and using a specialized knot to control the descent—a technique he recently saw in a documentary about the restoration of London’s Big Ben, where workers used the same knot to lower themselves. The knot was also historically used on sailing ships.

“Maybe even James Bond uses the same knot,” Hansen joked.

He has already retrieved the old bench from Nýggjaberg and brought it to his garage, where he is crafting a replica. Within the next week, he plans to return to the village to test the restored descent system.