Schlaghaus (Büdingen)
The Schlaghaus (also known as the slaughterhouse since the 17th century ) in Büdingen is a mighty late medieval gate built at the beginning of the 14th century . Originally, the Schlaghaus was on the most endangered southern side of the old town on the other side of the Seemenbach (in its old bed), a counterpart of the high Mühlpforte and connected with a drawbridge. The military and trade route passed there, which required special security. In the great "freedom letter" with which Heinrich II, Lord of Büdingen, gifted his city in 1353, the gate system with bridge, bolts, drawbridge and barrier is described.
The term Schlaghaus is derived from Schlag . The term has different meanings. A portcullis or a kind of barrier to protect the bridge system can be meant . Strike also refers to striking walls, which were often built in front of gates in the Middle Ages in order to divert the attacking enemy away from the direct direction to the gate. Schlag also denotes the place where road tolls or customs were to be paid, the turnpike.
Initially, the Mühlpforte and the Schlaghaus were in a straight line. In the event of enemy attacks, not only the batting house but also the second gate was endangered by shots. With the construction of a mighty wall belt in front of the older city wall between 1480 and 1510 by Count Ludwig II, this weakness was eliminated in 1494 by a redesign of the gate system. The course of the Seemenbach was diverted to the south in front of the "dam" and the old creek bed was converted into a dry ditch. As an outer gate, the Mühltor was built further to the west at Melior's house. The S-shaped routing prevented bullets through both gates. With this, however, the Schlaghaus lost its importance as a gate building and was converted into a half tower of the new fortifications. The passage of the Schlaghaus was walled up and a pointed turret was put in front of the Seemenbach. The stream, the gate bridge and the forecourt could be effectively set under fire from the turret. On two levels there are three of the typical Büdingen hump slits (shooting openings). The upper floor served as a retreat and guardroom. The military importance is still proven by bullets from lead bullets during the siege in autumn 1634 on the outside. Since 1700, the defensive system with its walls and towers has increasingly lost its importance. The Schlaghaus was used as a "Betzenloch", a prison for minor offenses. Dated incisions inside are a reminder of this function. It also served as a detention center for the gate guards.
Until 1777, the butchers' head on the Küchenbach served as a slaughterhouse for Büdinger butchers. In that year, the butchers moved their craft to the Schlaghaus, which was later renamed the slaughterhouse. For this purpose, the basement of the tower was filled in and the loopholes there walled up. On the floor of the slaughter room created in this way, sandstone slabs were laid with a slight gradient. This made it possible to channel blood and slaughterhouse waste directly into the Seemenbach. The slaughter room was equipped with a slaughter beam and other equipment.
In 1892, district health doctor Dr. Hauser the conditions in the Büdinger slaughterhouse. At times the Seemenbach had little water or was dammed up by the millers. As a result, the Seemenbach was often unable to fulfill its function as a sewer. In addition, the entire slaughterhouse took place in public, as there was no lockable area around the slaughterhouse. The slaughtered cattle were often transported without a cover. Ultimately, the Büdinger butchers founded the slaughterhouse cooperative in 1895. The object of their company was the "construction of a slaughterhouse in Büdingen on joint account" . The new slaughterhouse was built quickly and was soon able to take over the function of the strike house.
The Schlaghaus served as a storage room for over 100 years, most recently for the municipal building yard. As part of the renovation of the old town, the tower was thoroughly renovated in 2005/2006. The basement of the Schlaghaus was also exposed and made visible under a grating. Since September 2006, on the initiative of the slaughterhouse cooperative, the Schlaghaus has housed the Büdinger butcher museum. The slaughter facilities with slaughter beams and winch were reinstalled for this purpose. Historical butcher's tools and machines are also on display.
literature
- Hans-Velten Heuson: Büdingen - Yesterday and Today: Works on the history of the city and its surroundings (1300-1945) . Collection of articles by Hans-Velten Heuson. Edited by Volkmar Stein, Büdingen 2004, 293 pages, A4.
- Dr. Peter Decker, leaflet “Welcome to the Büdinger Metzgermuseum im Schlaghaus”, Büdingen 2006
Individual evidence
- ↑ Walter Corvinus: The old names of Büdingen and its forests (= Hessisches Flurnamenbuch 22). Giessen 1941, p. 30.
Coordinates: 50 ° 17 ′ 28 ″ N , 9 ° 7 ′ 0 ″ E