Watermill Museum Brüglingen
Encyclopedia
The Watermill Museum Brüglingen (Mühlemuseum Brüglingen) is housed within the former watermill and stands in the lower plane of Brüglingen, in the sub-district "Neue Welt
", Münchenstein
, in the canton
of Basel-Country
in Switzerland
.
region that lies along the western bank of the river Birs
between St. Jacob an der Birs (now part of Basel) and Münchenstein. The region called "Neue Welt" (the new world) evolved as the industry started to establish itself around the upper end of the "St. Alban-Teich", an artificial canal constructed during the 12th century to bring water and water power to the industry in Basel.
The late Gothic mill is situated directly below the Villa Merian
and its English Garden. The Villa stands upon the elevated area above the Brüglinger plane.
and the mill
between "Neue Welt" and St. Jakob an der Birs are mentioned in a deed in 1259 as being owned by the Basel Dompropstei (Provost's Church). Until the 16th century the mill was worked by a tenant who, in return, held the milling monopoly for the Dompropstei estate. Because the mill was situated upon a small hamlet of the river Birs, its existence was subject to flooding or water shortage.
In the 16th century the mill was rebuilt and during the years 1624/25, the canal was prolonged through Brüglingen and the former watermill stood on the bank of the hamlet that was exploited for this prolongation towards the Birs waterfall in Münchenstein, from where the water is sidetracked. In 1777 the mill was refurbished to the inhabit the miller.
In 1811 Christoph Merians senior bought the Brüglingen farm with the mill. In 1824 he gave it to his son Christoph Merian
as wedding present. The Christoph Merian Stiftung
refurbished the mill 1824 to a grain mill. Operating the mill continued until 1925, as from when it was used solely for storing grain for the estate.
The building has been used since 1966 as museum. New museum strategies were entered in 2002 and now the former watermill offers an exhibition on the history of the mill and millers’ daily work from the Bronze Age up to the present day. The mill and the grinder are still functional, therefore the museum shows the entire process from the water wheel to the water powered mechanism of the rotating mill wheel and grinders.
Neue Welt
The Neue Welt is a sub-district of Münchenstein, in the canton of Basel-Country in Switzerland.-Geographical location:The geographical area called the Neue Welt evolved in the 17th century as the industry started establishing itself around the upper end of the "St. Alban-Teich". This is a canal,...
", Münchenstein
Münchenstein
Münchenstein is a municipality in the district of Arlesheim in the canton of Basel-Landschaft in Switzerland.-Historical records:Münchenstein is first mentioned in 1196 as Kekingen. In 1270 it was mentioned as Geckingen and in 1279 as Munchenstein.* 1259: The hamlet and the mill, between "Neue...
, in the canton
Cantons of Switzerland
The 26 cantons of Switzerland are the member states of the federal state of Switzerland. Each canton was a fully sovereign state with its own borders, army and currency from the Treaty of Westphalia until the establishment of the Swiss federal state in 1848...
of Basel-Country
Basel-Country
Basel-Landschaft , is one of the 26 cantons of Switzerland. The capital is Liestal...
in Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
.
Geographical location
The geographical area Brüglingen is a planePlane
-Physical objects:* Aeroplane or airplane, a fixed-wing aircraft* Plane , a woodworking tool to smooth surfaces* Platanus, a genus of trees with the common name "plane"* Acer pseudoplatanus, a tree species sometimes called "plane"...
region that lies along the western bank of the river Birs
Birs
The Birs is a 73-km long river in Switzerland that flows through the Jura region and ends as a tributary to the Rhine between Basel and Birsfelden.- Picture gallery :...
between St. Jacob an der Birs (now part of Basel) and Münchenstein. The region called "Neue Welt" (the new world) evolved as the industry started to establish itself around the upper end of the "St. Alban-Teich", an artificial canal constructed during the 12th century to bring water and water power to the industry in Basel.
The late Gothic mill is situated directly below the Villa Merian
Villa Merian
The Villa Merian, with its English Garden, stands on the elevated plain above Brüglingen in Münchenstein, in the canton of Basel-Country in Switzerland.-Geographical location:...
and its English Garden. The Villa stands upon the elevated area above the Brüglinger plane.
History
The hamletHamlet
The Tragical History of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark, or more simply Hamlet, is a tragedy by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written between 1599 and 1601...
and the mill
Watermill
A watermill is a structure that uses a water wheel or turbine to drive a mechanical process such as flour, lumber or textile production, or metal shaping .- History :...
between "Neue Welt" and St. Jakob an der Birs are mentioned in a deed in 1259 as being owned by the Basel Dompropstei (Provost's Church). Until the 16th century the mill was worked by a tenant who, in return, held the milling monopoly for the Dompropstei estate. Because the mill was situated upon a small hamlet of the river Birs, its existence was subject to flooding or water shortage.
In the 16th century the mill was rebuilt and during the years 1624/25, the canal was prolonged through Brüglingen and the former watermill stood on the bank of the hamlet that was exploited for this prolongation towards the Birs waterfall in Münchenstein, from where the water is sidetracked. In 1777 the mill was refurbished to the inhabit the miller.
In 1811 Christoph Merians senior bought the Brüglingen farm with the mill. In 1824 he gave it to his son Christoph Merian
Christoph Merian
Christoph Merian was a banker and businessman. He was the son of Christoph Merian senior and Valeria Hoffmann and married in 1824 to Margarethe Burckhardt from Basel.He was the owner of a large estate, agriculturist and rentier. He was one of the richest Swiss men of that time...
as wedding present. The Christoph Merian Stiftung
Christoph Merian Stiftung
The Christoph Merian Stiftung is a non-profit-making public utility institution, with its seat in Basel . Up until 1972 the institution was named Chr. Merian’sche Stiftung.-Foundation:...
refurbished the mill 1824 to a grain mill. Operating the mill continued until 1925, as from when it was used solely for storing grain for the estate.
The building has been used since 1966 as museum. New museum strategies were entered in 2002 and now the former watermill offers an exhibition on the history of the mill and millers’ daily work from the Bronze Age up to the present day. The mill and the grinder are still functional, therefore the museum shows the entire process from the water wheel to the water powered mechanism of the rotating mill wheel and grinders.