City fortifications (Brilon)
The city fortifications in Brilon were medieval fortifications ; it had four portes (gates). Between the portals, connected by a strong wall, there were three watchtowers . The facility served the citizens as protection and security. The total circumference of the facility was around 2,166 meters.
description
The facility served as a defense structure to increase the defensive power and improve security in the city.
The forerunner of the walled city fortifications was probably a wood and earth work with palisades built on it . There was a ditch in front of the earth wall. In the 13th century, the earth wall was replaced by a solid wall about 2.5 m thick and 4 m high at great financial expense. Most likely it was laid out with a battlement on the crown. There was a ditch in front of the wall, the excavation of which was poured into a wall. The trench was not filled with water, but overgrown with grass. In peacetime the ditch was grazed by cattle and also leased for use in fields or gardens. The wall was erected in stages; only one piece of the palisade was replaced. The wall was first mentioned in city documents in 1434 and 1449. The ports were already described in the order of war of 1362.
Two main streets ran through the city. They crossed at the market and then each led out of the city through a gate. The passages were secured by strong wooden gates that were locked during the night. There were barriers in front of the gates to optimize the control by the gatekeepers, who also kept the keys to the gates. Wooden turnstiles, so-called loops, were also installed in front of the gates. When the barrier was lowered, the pedestrians had to "loop" through there.
In the upper part of the gates were the city prison rooms (prison chambers); ankle and handcuffs were attached to the walls. In the 17th century they were also used to house the alleged, accused witches. There were no stairs to access these cells. Immediately next to the gates were the porter's offices; This led to the access to the cells, as can still be seen today at Derker Tor.
The gatekeepers (often called “portari” in Latin) monitored incoming and outgoing passenger and freight traffic. In order to prevent the influx of beggars and other sedentary people, men of the shooting society were assigned as support.
In the event of a defense, the guarantors and the riflemen were instructed by a list from 1657 which section they had to occupy.
Derker gate
Originally the Derker Porte in the south was named Dericker Porte in 1473 (after the hamlet of Dederinghausen in the south at the foot of the Poppenberg).
The Dinkelbecker (tower) stood in the Derker wall, roughly where the parking lot at the indoor pool is today. Presumably it was named after the Dinkelbecker family who lived nearby and is documented several times around 1530. This tower was the highest point of the city fortifications; the gunshots fired by him could be heard clearly over the whole city. In 1750 the gate was rebuilt by the Tyrolean master mason Michael Schmitt, based on the model of the Lederker gate, but not so elaborately.
The city wall led from Derker Tor 62.8 meters to the first tower, where Schulstrasse ends. The tower was 8.2 meters high. Next it led 69 meters to the second tower at Husses house, where the wall of the judge Lohmann ends. From there 125.6 meters to the third tower on Dinkelbecker, there where Schneider Recker's garden begins and 141 meters further to Oberen Tor.
Upper gate
Originally the leather bay in the west was called Porte (after the Ledrike settlement ). The gate was mentioned in a document in 1399 on the occasion of a property sale by Hans de Sure and Diedrich von Hundemen to Heinrich the Strong from Brilon.
On July 9, 1742, the gate collapsed without warning. In the same year it was rebuilt with two large coat of arms stones, hewn sandstones and two surrounding ledges. The gate stood until around 1824. One of the coat of arms stones can be seen in the wayside shrine on the stairs of the town hall .
From the upper gate, the wall led 204 meters along the trench, which was 4.40 meters deep, to the first tower, which stood at Stummes Haus, 125.6 meters to the second tower and 125.6 meters to the third tower at Niggemanns and 125.6 meters to the Kreuziger Tor.
Crucified gate
The Kreuziger Porte in the north was originally named after the Krazinger Hof bei Wülfte , (possibly in the area of the Osterhof).
The gate stood from the 13th century until it was demolished in 1811.
In front of the Protestant church at the former location of the gate there is a memorial stele cast in bronze depicting the building. The cast was made by the sculptor Boris Sprenger.
From the Kreuziger Tor, the city wall led 94 meters to the first tower at the executioner's house, 110 meters to the second tower, called the Fang Tower, at Spieker's house 125.6 meters to the third tower at Torne's house. It was another 188 meters to the Lower Gate. The city prison was housed in the Fangenturm (prisoner tower). There is a document from 1684 that new handcuffs were bought.
Lower Gate (Keffelker Tor)
Originally the Keffelker Porte located in the east was named (after the settlement Kefflike).
The gate was demolished in 1811
It was 251 meters to the first tower at Ruthenberg's house. The distance to the second tower, which was very small, at the house of the widow Steinen, was 94 meters; to Derker Tor another 282.6 meters.
Probably, but no longer to be proven (according to Seibertz), there was another one between the first and second tower at the Entecke house.
Web links
Individual evidence
- ↑ Local
- ↑ 750 Years City of Brilon, Ed. City of Brilon, page 37 based on a document from JS Seibertz, City of Brilon No. 11
- ↑ a b c Gerhard Brökel: Past times, story from Brilon, Volume 3, p. 166, 167.
- ↑ Gerhard Brökel Past Times, Story from Brilon 5 , Briloner Heimatbund Semper Idem, page 10
- ^ Gerhard Brökel: Past times, story from Brilon, Volume 3, p. 168.
- ^ Gerhard Brökel: Past times, story from Brilon, Volume 3, p. 169.
- ↑ Gerhard Brökel (Ed.): Past times. History Association Semper Idem, pp. 16, 17; Combing book of 1753 and minutes of the council.
- ↑ 750 Years of the City of Brilon, published by the City of Brilon, pages 36 and 37 based on a document by JS Seibertz, City of Brilon No. 11
- ^ Alfred Bruns, inventory of the Brilon City Archives, inventory A, 1970, ed. from the State Office for Archive Maintenance, Verlag Aschendorff, Münster, p. 23.
- ^ Document Sprick 368, mentioned in Josef Rüther, Heimatgeschichte des Landkreises Brilon, page 329
- ↑ Local