Mining near Endorf

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Excerpt from the concession card for the construction of a second lead smelter in Bönkhausen from 1853

The mining near Endorf and the associated Bönkhausen in the area of ​​today's city Sundern (Sauerland) on iron and especially on lead goes back to the Middle Ages at the latest . It was so significant in the 16th century that the place for Berg Freiheit d. H. was raised to a minority of a mountain town . Various mining regulations were also issued, which to a large extent related to mining near Endorf . The place was temporarily the seat of the mining administration for the Duchy of Westphalia. With the decline of the mountain economy, the place lost this status again. Although it was now predominantly agricultural, mining and iron smelting played an important role in the 18th and early 19th centuries.

Formerly iron ore mining

It is only speculation whether there could have been mining activities in the vicinity as early as the Bronze Age . Endorf was first mentioned in 1191 in a document issued by the abbess of the Meschede monastery . As early as the Middle Ages, lead and iron mining and the processing of ores were of great importance. However, a "Ysenwerk" mentioned for 1348 in the county of Arnsberg was incorrectly only related to Endorf.

A 15th century hut was powered by water power through a ditch derived from the pipe . South of Endorf, the name Hüttenberg also indicates an old company. Initially, pits will have been exploited in the immediate vicinity of the place. The older ironworks and the iron production were probably between the 15th and 16th centuries. and the 18th century still. To what extent the early mining on the Rothloh mountain was related to the first Endorfer Hütte is still unclear.

Lead mining

Demolition of the mine at Erbenstein with the various shafts, the location of the uppermost tunnel, the Sebastian tunnel and the Wilde Katzen tunnel . Made by Steiger Johann Schulte on February 13, 1655

Lead extraction was more important than iron ore mining. The deposits on the Erbenstein mountain in Bönkhausen, about 2.5 km from Endorf, were of great supraregional importance . There is no written evidence that lead mining began. There are indications of high medieval origins. Statements from the 15th century, however, indicate that mining did not exist before the rule of Archbishop Friedrich III. von Saar Werden (from 1370) began. The importance of mining is also shown by the fact that between 1453 and 1482 there was a dispute between the Lords of Neheim and the archbishop rulers over the mountain tithe . From the negotiations it can be seen that at that time mining was both above ground and underground.

From the year 1504 it is recorded that lead was delivered from Erbenstein via the city of Soest to the northern German Hanseatic region .

Until the early 16th century, mining was operated with little technical effort. Ore processing and smelting were still primitive. The necessary capital was correspondingly small. Many miners still worked on their own or they formed small groups. After deducting the electoral tithe and operating costs, the sale of self-produced lead was usually only just enough to cover a living.

The dominance of small-scale mining is also evident in the Bergordnung of 1533, in which no provision dealt with the necessary working capital. This means that the mountain order may lag behind the actual development. Around 1530 a union of sixteen shareholders was formed to build an eruption, presumably to improve the drainage . The company enjoyed the support of the sovereign Hermann von Wied by granting privileges . Although the dewatering problem could not be completely resolved as a result, the supra-regional reputation of mining on Erbenstein was so great that there were also trades from the Harz and Cologne . In addition to other lead mines in the Duchy of Westphalia, Endorf also delivered lead to the Mansfeld region around 1560 . Carters brought lead to Eisleben and returned with freight for Cologne and Frankfurt am Main. The lead was needed for the Seiger huts there. These separated silver from raw copper. This required lead in large quantities.

The modernization of the mining industry was linked to the increased employment of labor.

There were three unions at that time. In one of these, Count Ludwig von Stolberg-Königsstein had the decisive influence. How high the production must have been back then is shown by the great need for charcoal. Some of this had to be brought in from across the watershed from the Weusper Forest. The area around Endorf looked like "small Egiptten" to people who were not local. The pyramid-shaped spoil heaps shaped the landscape. The establishment of a close economic relationship with the Saigerhütte in Gladenbach (Hesse) led to the construction of two new pits around 1564.

In 1449 the Cologne citizen Arnold von Kempen paid 400 gold guilders lease for the electoral shares in the Erbenstein. A short time later, the lease was reduced to 100 gold guilders because of water retention problems. This shows that the sovereign was able to draw considerable income from mining in addition to his tithe. At the same time, the risks also become clear. How von Kempen organized the business is not known. There may be subleases.

The so-called Churfürst-Ernst-Stollen, which was opened in 1530 and can still be seen today, also dates from this heyday of mining near Bönkhausen. The considerable boom in mining at this time meant that the known deposits near Bönkhausen were often exhausted.

Seat of the mountain administration and mountain freedom

The importance of Endorf was so great that the sovereign promoted mining considerably. The boom in mining led to the adoption of several mining regulations in the middle of the 16th century, a significant part of which related to mining on the Erbenstein. In a lengthy process, Endorf and Bönkhausen developed into a mountain freedom with a special legal status. In the first mining regulations of Archbishop Hermann von Wied from 1533, all trades, servants and merchants who operated a mine were assured of exemption from valuation and compulsory labor. The Bergordnung explicitly mentioned an area with special rights with “uff our fryheit”. The miner had a judicial function within the area. The Bergordnung of 1549 also referred to the Erbenstein. It granted the miners their own dish and other benefits.

Approaches to a mining administration also emerged . This had its seat in Endorf since 1570 at the latest. A mountain master and two mountain jury formed the mining office or mountain court. These officials were presumably external experts. The mining authority was together with the important mining in the area were decisive for the elevation of Endorf with the associated Bönkhausen to mountain freedom.

This step is to be distinguished from the mountain freedom of the miners on Erbenstein, which has existed since 1533. There is no formal survey certificate. Therefore the year 1585 mentioned by local historiography is not completely certain. It is certain that the chief mountain administrator for the Duchy of Westphalia, Hans Joachim Lautenschläger, settled in Endorf this year . In Endorf, the municipal administration and the mining administration were closely connected. The council chamber was also a mountain court room. Possibly the designation of the place to mountain freedom had to do with the fact that the miners lived for the most part in Endorf and it was, as it were, a transfer of the older freedom rights from the mining area to the place. On the other hand, evidence of settlement traces directly on the mines speak.

As far as the town of Endorf is concerned, even at the height of the mountain economy it was not completely influenced by mining and could never overcome its agricultural roots. Ecclesiastically Endorf remained part of the Stockum parish . Even if a considerable part of the place was still dominated by agriculture, the first church book from the beginning of the 17th century shows with numerous job titles or other references that part of the population lived from the mining industry.

Nothing is known about the miners themselves and their number. The number of 150 employees, which was common in the 19th century, is likely to be set significantly too high. After all, there was an organization based on division of labor consisting of mining and smelting companies. At least a few dozen people are likely to have made a living from the mining industry. Incidentally, Endorf had not managed to become a member of the city curia of the state parliament of the duchy based on the city-like rights .

The special rights of the miners on Erbenstein retained their legal force for some time. At least they were not forgotten in the first decades of the 17th century. With the Thirty Years' War the decline of the mining industry in Bönkhausen began, which could not be overcome even after the end of the war, although the bourgeois trades and nobles were interested in a revival. Even the presence of Elector Maximilian Heinrich of Bavaria in Bönkhausen could not change that.

A mining standstill at Erbenstein is reported from 1668. The attempt to get the business going again failed because the Landdroste had called up the miners for military service. Incidentally, mining at Rothloh also came to a standstill during this time. The result was that the number of residents in Endorf fell significantly. In this context, Endorf also lost its special rights as mountain freedom again.

Revival in the 18th century

Clemens Schulte (1828–1903) was the last climber in mining on the Erbenstein

Mining near Bönkhausen was not completely abandoned. It was operated between 1733 and 1761 by the von Schilder family, who came from East Westphalia. At that time the Erbstollen and the Wilde Katz mine were in operation. In 1761 the Wilde Katz mine had passed to Hofrat Arndts. According to his own account, the mining pastor Johannes Franz Becker was also involved at times. The Erbstollen had already fallen into the mountain free.

A revitalization of the smelting took place in the middle of the 18th century. As an Endorf trade union, the steelworks passed into the majority ownership of Johann Wilhelm Arndts from Arnsberg in 1756 . The raw material was based on mines in Wildewiese , Endorferhütte and Hagen , as well as, to a lesser extent, pits in the immediate vicinity of the village. The pits at Rothloh were of central importance. At the beginning of the 19th century there were three passable tunnels (Antonius, Gabe Gottes, depth Elisabeth). Another new mine opened in 1780 was the Christianszeche on Finkenberg. There were also other mines.

Anton Wilhelm Stephan Arndt's co-owner and professor of mineralogy reported on mining in the 18th and early 19th centuries. At that time, ore was mainly mined in the Rothlohzeche, in the Michaelszeche on Leierweg and in the Christianszeche on Finkenberg. The most important was the Rothlohzeche, which opened around 1750. Up until the 1790s, mining was still partly carried out through production shafts, then through the aforementioned tunnel structures . Apparently there had been moments of crisis even after the new start. Before 1795 there was hardly any dismantling, and Arndts found that some of the facilities at Rothloh were no longer drivable. Only the innovations by Arndts himself contributed to the modernization of the dismantling.

At the turn of the 18th and 19th centuries, the workforce consisted of 12 to 14 miners. These were divided into different comradeships and were subordinate to a Steiger . The drive was carried out using a drill and explosives. The mining itself was carried out with a wedge hoe and the other usual tack . Payment was made in kind . After the land passed to Prussia, this was completed monthly by the royal mountain jury. The highest value was paid for the construction of the Elisabeth gallery. There it was at times 20 Reichstalers per laugh . In the case of iron stone mining and extraction, however, only 45 stüber to 1 Reichstaler 20 stüber were paid per load . 8 to 12 hour shifts were run for special work. For this there were 18 to 20 stüber underground and 15 to 18 stüber above ground. The promotion was done with carts but mostly with dogs that could transport almost a load.

The annual iron stone production was 550 Fuder. There was no increase in funding at Rothloh because not more than 350 Olper wagons of charcoal could be procured annually . Another 150 loads came from Michaels Zeche and another 160 loads from Alsenberger Zeche for smelting with the ore from Rothloh.

The revitalization of mining on the Michaelszeche, which had also been shut down after 1790, encountered considerable problems. These included the problem of dewatering and bad weather which made nausea. Arndts had a "weather machine" built that acted as a fan to drive out the bad air. From May 1818 to November 1819 alone, 263 loads of the best Eisensteins were mined. Four to five miners were employed there who were subordinate to the Steiger am Rothloh.

The Christianszeche on the Finkenberg delivered a considerable amount of ore in the first decades after the resumption of mining. However, the quality was considered to be worse than the ore from the other mines. Later the delivery rate decreased. In 1815 it was only 30 fuders. Four to five men were also employed there.

The Endorfer Hütte blast furnace has been increased from 19 to 26 feet . With the supply of high-quality ores, the smelter achieved a production volume of five to six hundredweight per day with a relatively moderate consumption of charcoal.

In the report by the miner Ludwig Carl Christian Buff on the situation of mining and metallurgy in the Duchy of Westphalia from 1816 it is mentioned that the smelters in the Stockum area were not operated every year. The Endorfer Hütte was modernized shortly beforehand, so that Buff was hoping for “large and advantageous hut trips”. In the past 15 to 20 weeks a year were smelted there and 24 to 26 quintals of pig iron were produced in twenty-four hours.

In the long run, the system was no longer sufficient for technological development. In place of the Endorfer Hütte, the Recklinghauser Hütte was built in 1852 and put into operation a year later. The furnace was 30 feet high and 9 feet above the grate and 2 feet 10 inches above the top. The system had a blower with three cylinders and an air heater. In addition to pig iron for freshening, pig iron was also produced that was suitable for cast goods. For the purpose of remelting, the smelter had two cupola furnaces .

In 1849 the Endorf trade union was awarded the Wildewiese district field. The Louis, Raphael and Franz Friedrich galleries were used there. In the entire area of ​​the Endorfer Hütte, 2759 tons of Eisenstein were extracted in 1852/53, 4113 tons in 1853/54, 7398 tons in 1855/56 and 108 tons in 1860/61.

End of the coal and steel industry

The end of the mining industry had already started at this time. The Bonn Mining Authority described the pits as early as 1890 in the retrospective. The Rosengarten mine at the Baukloh near Endorferhütte dates back to older mining. Roteisenstein was dismantled on the sheath of slate as a lying and greywacke as a hanging wall . Initially this was operated in shaft construction. The shafts were sunk to a depth of 48 meters. The problem of dewatering forced the transition to tunnel construction in 1850. This tunnel, driven by the Rottensiepen, came under the upper farmers at a depth of 25 m and reached a length of 260 m. In 1865, the mine was stopped.

The iron ore deposit at Rothloh is impressive, sometimes 12 m thick. It consists of brown and red iron stone as well as spate iron stone. There were a total of seven tunnels. The depth of the sea from Gabegottes to the Raphaelsstollen was 108 m. The length of the noble medium, which was driven over in the Antonius tunnel, is 150 m.

The ore deposit of the Alsenberg mine on the mountain of the same name is an extension of the deposits on Rothloh. There mainly calcareous iron stone and rare brown iron stone were found. There were two tunnels there. Of these, the deposit was dismantled over a length of 90 m. Operations ceased in 1844.

According to the Mining Authority, mining only ended completely in this area in 1877. A resumption would only have been worthwhile if the transport conditions had been improved. The smelting stopped around 1865.

At the beginning of the 20th century, further investigations were carried out to determine whether it would be worthwhile to resume operations. But that never happened.

Individual evidence

  1. ^ Wilfried Reinighaus, Reinhard Köhne: Mining, smelting and hammer works in the Duchy of Westphalia in the Middle Ages and in the early modern period. Münster 2008, p. 31.
  2. ^ Wilfried Reinighaus, Reinhard Köhne: Mining, smelting and hammer works in the Duchy of Westphalia in the Middle Ages and in the early modern period. Münster 2008, p. 384.
  3. ↑ on the problem of terminology Ysenwerk see: Maria Rörig, Wolfgang Kleffner: In general historical documents and in archives, mining activity in the past in Sundern attested. In: Chronicle of pre-industrial ore mining and metal extraction in the Sundern area. Sundern 1996, pp. 79f.
  4. ^ Wilfried Reinighaus, Reinhard Köhne: Mining, smelting and hammer works in the Duchy of Westphalia in the Middle Ages and in the early modern period. Münster 2008, p. 384.
  5. ↑ cf. also on the location: Maria Rörig, Wolfgang Kleffner: In general historical documents and in archives, mining activity in the past in Sundern is attested. In: Chronicle of pre-industrial ore mining and metal extraction in the Sundern area. Sundern 1996, p. 107.
  6. ^ Regest November 11, 1458 , Regest March 1, 1473 , Regest May 17, 1482
  7. ^ Wilfried Reinighaus, Reinhard Köhne: Mining, smelting and hammer works in the Duchy of Westphalia in the Middle Ages and in the early modern period. Münster 2008, p. 386.
  8. ↑ Christoph Bartels: Mining, processing and economic use of Endorf lead in the 15th and 16th centuries. In: Chronicle of pre-industrial ore mining and metal extraction in the Sundern area. Sundern 1996, p. 149.
  9. ^ Hermann V. von Wied, Archbishop of Cologne and Elector, privileged 16 trades with inheritance rights at Erbenstein in the parish of Stockum because of the water retention problems
  10. ↑ Maria Rörig, Wolfgang Kleffner: In general historical documents and in archives, mining activity of the past in Sundern attested. In: Chronicle of pre-industrial ore mining and metal extraction in the Sundern area. Sundern 1996, p. 111.
  11. ↑ Christoph Bartels: Mining, processing and economic use of Endorf lead in the 15th and 16th centuries. In: Chronicle of pre-industrial ore mining and metal extraction in the Sundern area. Sundern 1996, p. 147.
  12. ↑ Christoph Bartels: Mining, processing and economic use of Endorf lead in the 15th and 16th centuries. In: Chronicle of pre-industrial ore mining and metal extraction in the Sundern area. Sundern 1996, p. 150.
  13. ^ Wilfried Reinighaus, Reinhard Köhne: Mining, smelting and hammer works in the Duchy of Westphalia in the Middle Ages and in the early modern period. Münster 2008, p. 386.
  14. ↑ Christoph Bartels: Mining, processing and economic use of Endorf lead in the 15th and 16th centuries. In: Chronicle of pre-industrial ore mining and metal extraction in the Sundern area. Sundern 1996, p. 150.
  15. ↑ Pictures of the mouth hole, among others
  16. ↑ Christoph Bartels: Mining, processing and economic use of Endorf lead in the 15th and 16th centuries. In: Chronicle of pre-industrial ore mining and metal extraction in the Sundern area. Sundern 1996, p. 150.
  17. ↑ Bergordnung for the Erbenstein from 1533
  18. ↑ Bergordnung of 1549
  19. ^ Wilfried Reinighaus, Reinhard Köhne: Mining, smelting and hammer works in the Duchy of Westphalia in the Middle Ages and in the early modern period. Münster 2008, p. 387f.
  20. ^ Wilfried Reinighaus, Reinhard Köhne: Mining, smelting and hammer works in the Duchy of Westphalia in the Middle Ages and in the early modern period. Münster 2008, p. 388.
  21. ^ Wilfried Reinighaus, Reinhard Köhne: Mining, smelting and hammer works in the Duchy of Westphalia in the Middle Ages and in the early modern period. Münster 2008, p. 389.
  22. ↑ cf. also on the location: Maria Rörig, Wolfgang Kleffner: In general historical documents and in archives, mining activity in the past in Sundern is attested. In: Chronicle of pre-industrial ore mining and metal extraction in the Sundern area. Sundern 1996, p. 107f.
  23. ^ Wilfried Reinighaus, Reinhard Köhne: Mining, smelting and hammer works in the Duchy of Westphalia in the Middle Ages and in the early modern period. Münster 2008, p. 388.
  24. ↑ Maria Rörig, Wolfgang Kleffner: In general historical documents and in archives, mining activity of the past in Sundern attested. In: Chronicle of pre-industrial ore mining and metal extraction in the Sundern area. Sundern 1996, p. 78.
  25. ↑ Maria Rörig, Wolfgang Kleffner: In general historical documents and in archives, mining activity of the past in Sundern attested. In: Chronicle of pre-industrial ore mining and metal extraction in the Sundern area. Sundern 1996, p. 73.
  26. ^ Wilfried Reinighaus, Reinhard Köhne: Mining, smelting and hammer works in the Duchy of Westphalia in the Middle Ages and in the early modern period. Münster 2008, p. 388f.
  27. ^ Wilfried Reinighaus, Reinhard Köhne: Mining, smelting and hammer works in the Duchy of Westphalia in the Middle Ages and in the early modern period. Münster 2008, p. 389.
  28. ^ Wilfried Reinighaus, Reinhard Köhne: Mining, smelting and hammer works in the Duchy of Westphalia in the Middle Ages and in the early modern period. Münster 2008, p. 385.
  29. ^ Anton Wilhelm Stephan Arndts: News about the most excellent mines belonging to the Endorf ironworks in the Duchy of Westphalia. In: Ders .: Treatises from the field of mineralogy and technology. Elberfeld 1854, p. 205.
  30. ^ Anton Wilhelm Stephan Arndts: News about the most excellent mines belonging to the Endorf ironworks in the Duchy of Westphalia. In: Ders .: Treatises from the field of mineralogy and technology. Elberfeld 1854, p. 206.
  31. ^ Anton Wilhelm Stephan Arndts: News about the most excellent mines belonging to the Endorf ironworks in the Duchy of Westphalia. In: Ders .: Treatises from the field of mineralogy and technology. Elberfeld 1854, p. 212.
  32. ^ Anton Wilhelm Stephan Arndts: News about the most excellent mines belonging to the Endorf ironworks in the Duchy of Westphalia. In: Ders .: Treatises from the field of mineralogy and technology. Elberfeld 1854, p. 214f.
  33. ^ Anton Wilhelm Stephan Arndts: News about the most excellent mines belonging to the Endorf ironworks in the Duchy of Westphalia. In: Ders .: Treatises from the field of mineralogy and technology. Elberfeld 1854, p. 215.
  34. ^ Anton Wilhelm Stephan Arndts: News about the most excellent mines belonging to the Endorf ironworks in the Duchy of Westphalia. In: Ders .: Treatises from the field of mineralogy and technology. Elberfeld 1854, pp. 226, 230.
  35. ^ Anton Wilhelm Stephan Arndts: News about the most excellent mines belonging to the Endorf ironworks in the Duchy of Westphalia. In: Ders .: Treatises from the field of mineralogy and technology. Elberfeld 1854, p. 234.
  36. ^ Anton Wilhelm Stephan Arndts: Remarks on the ironworks, with special regard to the results of some, in the Königl. Government district of Arnsberg built blast furnaces with cylinder blowers. In: Ders .: Treatises from the field of mineralogy and technology. Elberfeld 1854, p. 92.
  37. ^ Bergmeister Buff: Brief description of the Duchy of Westphalia from a geognostic, mining and metallurgical perspective. Eslohe 1816, printed in: Wilfried Reinighaus, Reinhard Köhne: Mining, smelting and hammer works in the Duchy of Westphalia in the Middle Ages and in the early modern period. Münster 2008, p. 562.
  38. ^ Wilhelm Ludwig Jakobi: The mining, metallurgy and trade in the administrative district of Arnsberg. Iserlohn 1857, p. 143.
  39. ↑ Rothloh mine
  40. ^ Description of the mountain areas Arnsberg, Brilon and Olpe as well as the principalities of Waldeck and Pyrmont. Bonn 1890, p. 88f.
  41. ^ Description of the mountain areas Arnsberg, Brilon and Olpe as well as the principalities of Waldeck and Pyrmont. Bonn 1890, p. 89.
  42. ^ Description of the mountain areas Arnsberg, Brilon and Olpe as well as the principalities of Waldeck and Pyrmont. Bonn 1890, p. 89.
  43. ^ Description of the mountain areas Arnsberg, Brilon and Olpe as well as the principalities of Waldeck and Pyrmont. Bonn 1890, p. 85.
  44. ^ Description of the mountain areas Arnsberg, Brilon and Olpe as well as the principalities of Waldeck and Pyrmont. Bonn 1890, p. 209.
  45. ↑ [1]

literature

  • Wilfried Reininghaus: Mining towns in the Cologne Sauerland. Brilon, Hagen, Endorf and Silbach in the Middle Ages and early modern times. In: Karl Heinrich Kaufhold, Wilfried Reininghaus (ed.): City and mining. (= Urban research. A 64). Cologne et al. 2004, pp. 39-72.
  • Wilfried Reinighaus, Reinhard Köhne: Mining, smelting and hammer works in the Duchy of Westphalia in the Middle Ages and in the early modern period. Münster et al. 2008, pp. 383-389.
  • Anton Wilhelm Stephan Arndts: News about the most excellent mines belonging to the Endorf ironworks in the Duchy of Westphalia. In: Ders .: Treatises from the field of mineralogy and technology. Elberfeld 1854, pp. 205-235.
  • Maria Rörig: Endorf, history of a rural community in the Sauerland . Sundern 1981.
  • Description of the mountain areas Arnsberg, Brilon and Olpe and the principalities of Waldeck and Pyrmont. Bonn 1890.
  • Chronicle of pre-industrial ore mining and metal extraction in the Sundern area . Sundern 1996.

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