Groothusen
Encyclopedia
Groothusen is an old Langwurtendorf - a village on an artificially-built ridge - in the municipality of Krummhörn
in western East Frisia
on Germany's North Sea
coast. It lies about 15 kilometres northwest of the seaport of Emden
and has a population of 474 (as at: 31 December 2006). The ridge or warf has a length of about 500 metres and a width of some 130 metres and was built to raise the village above the water level should flooding from the sea occur e.g. during a storm tide
.
from Werden Abbey
, the village was first mentioned in the year 1000 under the name Husum, but it had probably been established in the 8th century. Based on excavations carried out locally it can be inferred that it was probably a Wikdorf or trading post. It was laid out on a creek
(Priel) that discharged into the so-called "Bay of Sielmönken" which has since completely silted up.
At that time it was only about 500 metres from the coast and therefore close to Frisia's maritime trading routes including the route between Dorestad
and Haithabu. Frisian
merchants stacked their goods here and were accommodated in the village if they needed to stay for any length of time. After dykes were built in the 13th century Groothusen lost its importance as a trading post. Other Langwurtendorf villages in East Frisia are found near Groothusen including Grimersum (Krummhörn), Jemgum
and Hatzum (Rheiderland
), and in the centres of Oldersum (Moormerland
) and in Nesse
(Norder Marsch).
By the Early Middle Ages
, Husum was the seat of a Münster provost (Propstei). The northwestern end of the long warf village is formed by the large St. Peter's Church, one of the six provost churches in the old Emsgau, with its huge tower. The bell dates to the year 1526. The gravestone of Adda von Meckenaborg, lady of Groothusen, from 1590, carved in blue stone is particularly fine. As well as other impressive graves, the church has a splendid 1454 cast bronze font by Ghert Klinghe and a valuable organ by Johann Friedrich Wenthin (1798-1801) with unique flute tones.
There were once three manor houses in Groothusen - the Osterburg, Middelburg and Westerburg. Only the Osterburg
- rebuilt in 1490 - has been preserved; the other two were destroyed in feuds in 1400 and 1432 by Hamburg
's citizens. The Osterburg is on the eastern side of the village by a protected area
and has a long, historic lime avenue. Today it houses numerous historical memorabilia.
Krummhörn
Krummhörn is a municipality in the district of Aurich, in Lower Saxony, Germany. It is situated near the Ems estuary, approximately 15 km southwest of Norden, and 10 km northwest of Emden....
in western East Frisia
East Frisia
East Frisia or Eastern Friesland is a coastal region in the northwest of the German federal state of Lower Saxony....
on Germany's North Sea
North Sea
In the southwest, beyond the Straits of Dover, the North Sea becomes the English Channel connecting to the Atlantic Ocean. In the east, it connects to the Baltic Sea via the Skagerrak and Kattegat, narrow straits that separate Denmark from Norway and Sweden respectively...
coast. It lies about 15 kilometres northwest of the seaport of Emden
Emden
Emden is a city and seaport in the northwest of Germany, on the river Ems. It is the main city of the region of East Frisia; in 2006, the city had a total population of 51,692.-History:...
and has a population of 474 (as at: 31 December 2006). The ridge or warf has a length of about 500 metres and a width of some 130 metres and was built to raise the village above the water level should flooding from the sea occur e.g. during a storm tide
Storm tide
A storm tide is a tide with a high flood period caused by a storm. Storm tides can be a severe danger to the coast and the people living along the coast. The water level can rise to more than 5 meters above the normal tide....
.
History
According to the urbariumUrbarium
Urbarium is a term that means a register of fief ownership and includes the rights and benefits that the fief holder has over his serfs and peasants. It is an important economic and legal source of medieval and early modern feudalism.Urbarium were also used to record land rent and stock...
from Werden Abbey
Werden Abbey
Werden Abbey was a Benedictine monastery in Essen-Werden , situated on the Ruhr.- The foundation of the abbey :Near Essen Saint Ludger founded a monastery in 799 and became its first abbot. The little church which Saint Ludger built here in honor of Saint Stephen was completed in 804 and dedicated...
, the village was first mentioned in the year 1000 under the name Husum, but it had probably been established in the 8th century. Based on excavations carried out locally it can be inferred that it was probably a Wikdorf or trading post. It was laid out on a creek
Creek (tidal)
A tidal creek, tidal channel, or estuary is the portion of a stream that is affected by ebb and flow of ocean tides, in the case that the subject stream discharges to an ocean, sea or strait. Thus this portion of the stream has variable salinity and electrical conductivity over the tidal cycle...
(Priel) that discharged into the so-called "Bay of Sielmönken" which has since completely silted up.
At that time it was only about 500 metres from the coast and therefore close to Frisia's maritime trading routes including the route between Dorestad
Dorestad
In the Early Middle Ages, Dorestad was the largest settlement of northwestern Europe. It was a large, flourishing trading place, three kilometers long, situated where the rivers Rhine and Lek diverge southeast of Utrecht in the Netherlands near the modern town of Wijk bij Duurstede...
and Haithabu. Frisian
Frisians
The Frisians are a Germanic ethnic group native to the coastal parts of the Netherlands and Germany. They are concentrated in the Dutch provinces of Friesland and Groningen and, in Germany, East Frisia and North Frisia, that was a part of Denmark until 1864. They inhabit an area known as Frisia...
merchants stacked their goods here and were accommodated in the village if they needed to stay for any length of time. After dykes were built in the 13th century Groothusen lost its importance as a trading post. Other Langwurtendorf villages in East Frisia are found near Groothusen including Grimersum (Krummhörn), Jemgum
Jemgum
Jemgum is a municipality in the Leer district, in the northwest of Lower Saxony, Germany. The area is known as Rheiderland or Reiderland . The Rheiderland is located in East Friesland....
and Hatzum (Rheiderland
Rheiderland
The Rheiderland is a region of Germany and the Netherlands between the River Ems and the Bay of Dollart. The German part of the Rheiderland lies in East Frisia, west of the Ems. The Dutch part lies in the Dutch province of Groningen and is mostly part of Oldambt...
), and in the centres of Oldersum (Moormerland
Moormerland
Moormerland is a municipality in the Leer District, in Lower Saxony, northwestern Germany....
) and in Nesse
Dornum
Dornum is a village and a municipality in the East Frisian district of Aurich, in Lower Saxony, Germany. It is situated near the North Sea coast, approx...
(Norder Marsch).
By the Early Middle Ages
Early Middle Ages
The Early Middle Ages was the period of European history lasting from the 5th century to approximately 1000. The Early Middle Ages followed the decline of the Western Roman Empire and preceded the High Middle Ages...
, Husum was the seat of a Münster provost (Propstei). The northwestern end of the long warf village is formed by the large St. Peter's Church, one of the six provost churches in the old Emsgau, with its huge tower. The bell dates to the year 1526. The gravestone of Adda von Meckenaborg, lady of Groothusen, from 1590, carved in blue stone is particularly fine. As well as other impressive graves, the church has a splendid 1454 cast bronze font by Ghert Klinghe and a valuable organ by Johann Friedrich Wenthin (1798-1801) with unique flute tones.
There were once three manor houses in Groothusen - the Osterburg, Middelburg and Westerburg. Only the Osterburg
Osterburg (Groothusen)
The Osterburg is a castle from the High Middle Ages in the village of Groothusen in the municipality of Krummhörn, in the district of Aurich in Lower Saxony, Germany.- Location :...
- rebuilt in 1490 - has been preserved; the other two were destroyed in feuds in 1400 and 1432 by Hamburg
Hamburg
-History:The first historic name for the city was, according to Claudius Ptolemy's reports, Treva.But the city takes its modern name, Hamburg, from the first permanent building on the site, a castle whose construction was ordered by the Emperor Charlemagne in AD 808...
's citizens. The Osterburg is on the eastern side of the village by a protected area
Protected area
Protected areas are locations which receive protection because of their recognised natural, ecological and/or cultural values. There are several kinds of protected areas, which vary by level of protection depending on the enabling laws of each country or the regulations of the international...
and has a long, historic lime avenue. Today it houses numerous historical memorabilia.
Sources
- Kempe, Enno F. (1989). Die Osterburg zu Groothusen (Ostfriesischer Kunstführer, Heft 12). Aurich
- Reinhardt, Waldemar (1959). Die Grabung auf der Dorfwarf von Groothusen, Kreis Norden, und ihre Ergebnisse. In: Jahrbuch der Gesellschaft für bildende Kunst und vaterländische Altertümer zu Emden. Vol. 39, p. 30-36.