The farm Volden was separated from Indre Skei farm in 1811, and housed military officers until 1855. The local District court judge Christen Elster then bought the farm privately, but in 1858 Government was convinced to make Volden a permanent residence for the local District judges.
Sunnfjord has been the seat for the local District judge since 1625. In the beginning not on a permanent location, but from 1852 onwards in Førde.
Between 1855 and 1971 ten local District court judges stayed at Volden. Therafter, the farm became residence for other civil servants. Førde municipality bought the farm, and from 1975 it became the rectory in Førde.
The oldest part of the main building was probably built in the 1840s, but the house was significantly extended by Christen Elster in 1864.
In the middle of the yard there is a small, white house that was moved there by Elster in 1855. Prior to that it was located at Hundvebakke and owned by Sergeant Ole Teigen. Probably, the house was previously located at the former rectory. It is likely the oldest house in the center of Førde. It may be from the 18th century but may very well be even older. It was used as an office building by the local District court judges. After Volden became a rectory, the church office was located there.
Today, the old yard is divided, with rectory in one end and kindergarten in the other. After a long dispute between conservation interests and the municipality, a permit was granted in 2017 to build a new kindergarten in the yard.