Old School (Wismar)
The old school was a building in Wismar in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania . It belonged to the "Gothic Quarter", which was concentrated around St. Mary's Church until it was almost completely destroyed in World War II . The architectural signature of the Hanseatic era was more pronounced here than in almost any other north German city. The delicately designed facades were an important example of Gothic brick art in the early 14th century. The old school with a two-story elevation stood west of St. Mary's Church , the tower of which is still standing today.
In 2015, a large wooden box protected the cellar ruins from the weather. In the future, the aim is to rebuild the old school. The facade of the Wismar Archdeaconate , which was rebuilt from 1962 to 1963 , refers to the old school. The exterior of the nearby George Church was largely restored by 2010.
History and architecture
In the city book of the Hanseatic city of Wismar , the old school was mentioned in 1351 as an elongated building that was divided in the middle by a fire wall. Both halves of the building were divided into three classrooms of the same size by half-timbered walls. This division extended from the basement to the roof. The old school in the high Gothic style was considered an outstanding example of brick architecture on the Baltic Sea. Rich structures with battlements, friezes and panels characterized the building. The bricks of the wall surfaces were glazed green and red. The front on the south side had 15 axes, the north side 16. The window niches on the ground floor had arches and were divided into two zones. The windows on the upper floor were divided vertically in the middle. A continuous frieze between the upper and ground floor emphasized the structure.
The eastern sixth of the building was demolished in 1863 in favor of the Town Musicians' House. The newly built east gable received friezes and blind niches with glazed stones. The sexton of St. Mary's had his apartment in the building, other rooms were used as poor houses.
The architect and master builder Gustav Hamann had the old school completely restored in 1880. According to documents from the 19th century, he was closely guided by the existing building fabric. The sexton's apartment was retained, the other rooms were to be used as a museum. The Museum of Art and Antiquity moved into the exhibition rooms in 1881 with the collections that were owned by a civil association.
The old school was so badly damaged in an air raid in April 1945 that the remains of the building were demolished between 1946 and 1948 and the basement rooms were filled with rubble.
Archaeological digs
During the first excavations in 2001, parts of the cellar rooms were exposed and the securing and excavation work has continued since then. As part of the investigations into the Gothic Quarter, the investigations were also extended to the old school, whereby the surprisingly good preservation of the cellars could be determined. The floor, the walls and the cellar stairs have been preserved. Limestone, bricks and other materials were found in the rubble.
literature
- Jürgen Borchert : What I know from Wismar Notes and pictures
Web links
- Literature about old school (Wismar) in the state bibliography MV
- Pages of the citizens' initiative Reconstruction of the old school in the Gothic Quarter of Wismar
- Conception of the city of Wismar
Individual evidence
- ↑ Wismar.de
- ↑ Protection of the ruin
- ^ Old school is to be rebuilt , Ostsee-Zeitung , January 16, 2014
- ↑ Building history
- ↑ excavations
Coordinates: 53 ° 53 ′ 27.3 " N , 11 ° 27 ′ 44.9" E