Smithy on Richardplatz
The historic smithy on Richardplatz in the old center of the Berlin district of Neukölln , on the border between the former Bohemian Rixdorf and Deutsch-Rixdorf, which was later called Rixdorf until 1912, is first mentioned in 1624.
In 1797 the forge was converted from a running to a residential forge; that means that from this point on a blacksmith was resident on the spot. Until then, the forge was operated by a blacksmith from Berlin who came to Bohemian Rixdorf once a week. The Berlin blacksmiths' guild had successfully prevented the conversion into a residential blacksmith's shop because they feared competition for the Berlin master blacksmiths. In 1797 the community of Rixdorf finally acquired the forge. The community sold them to a master blacksmith. It then remained in the same family for over 150 years.
The forge is still traditionally used as an art and cutlery forge. Visitors can gain an insight into the old craft at numerous events. The residential building houses the Schmiede women's meeting point . A special attraction is the blacksmith's shop for the Rixdorf Christmas market, which takes place every year on the second weekend in Advent .
The smithy, located in the middle of the village green , today's Richardplatz , was of great importance for life in the village of Rixdorf. Here the farm implements and tools were repaired and the farmers' horses shod.
The forge has been rebuilt and expanded several times over the centuries. In 1802, when the blacksmith received permission to build a coal chamber next to the forge, the existing buildings are described as follows:
"[...] a house [...] under a tiled roof next to the already existing small forge 20 feet [6.3 m] wide and 15 feet [4.7 m] deep in the middle of the village."
In the course of the 19th century, the forge gradually got its current form. Extensive renovations took place in the 1960s and 1980s.
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Coordinates: 52 ° 28 ′ 27 " N , 13 ° 26 ′ 46.2" E