Viersen, Hammer Schanze.

This is the site of one of Viersen's "Schanze" - large moated forts used by Viersen's citizens during war and times of crisis, when they would abandon their homes and come here with their families, their livestock and their valuables to seek refuge. Between 100-150 houses were situated on the Hammer Schanz (the largest of Viersen's four).

It was the scene of horrific atrocities inter alia during the 30 Years' war. Only one incident is known to us in detail as the records were largely destroyed. After the defeat of the Imperial forces on the Huelser Heide, near Krefeld, on 7 January 1642, the victorious French-Weimar army came killing, burning, raping and looting through Kempen and Viersen. Only the Hammer Schanze remained, where hundreds of innocent citizens held out as a last resort. The French commander, Rosa, was greedy for plunder and decided to take his full nine regiments and seven cannon away from Viersen town and St Paul's Convent (which they had already plundered) and attacked the Hammer Schanz with all his force. Unable to resist such vast numbers, the Schanz was overrun. Most of the citizens were murdered. All of the houses in the Schanz were burned down, all the valuables and livestock taken away by the marauding French-Weimar troops.

The Schanz was rebuilt and was still in use as late as 1793. Nowadays it is difficult to see what the precise layout was (unless one is familiar with similar, if bigger, fortified towns such as Oudeschans or Nieuweschans in Groningen, Holland).

The houses that stand there now are 20th century - rather attractive, compact buildings.

Beech tree by Tempelshoefe, south of Ober-Beberich, Viersen (top picture taken looking from north to south, bottom picture south to north).

This is a prehistoric spot, some say it was a cult centre of the heathen goddess Hele or Heel, a place of ancient ritual and sacrifice. There is no hard evidence for this assertion, but prehistoric artefacts have been discovred in an adjoining field. Additionally, a pre-Roman road or walkway passes close by (just out of frame on the right of the bottom picture).

Viersen.

The mill at Hamm ("Hammer Mühle") is one of the twelve mills mentioned as being located in Viersen in 1246.

This mill has been splendidly restored, so far as one can make out from the outside. It is located in a beautiful, tucked-away spot (spoiled only - and typically - by some very intrusive electricity pylons) in Hamm, one of the original 9 "Honschaften" (hundreds or neighborhoods technically comprising 100 homes) of the old lordship of Viersen.

The old Hof Aen gen Endt (or An gen End) was occupied by the Aen gen Endt (or Angenendt) family in the sixteenth century.

It is situated in a part of Viersen called Donk, which was, up until Napoleonic times, an allodial lordship.

The old Hof has changed owners and names a few times since the 16th century. It has also been named "Genneger" Hof and "Schlippes" Hof.

It has now been remodelled quite radically to give it a quasi-Italianate villa look. Some of the rear buildings retain a more traditional feel.

Festhallepatz Viersen - Hurricane Kyrill uproots tree, between 9-10 PM on Thursday 18th January, 2007.




This is the third big tree uprooted in the square over the past few months - two by storms, one by the council.

The warm winter is partly to blame, as this has left the soil soft and incapable of holding the roots in hurricane conditions. The roots of these particular trees also grow horizontally, and quite close to the surface, giving them less grip.

Luckily, the damage has been minimal. The first tree to fall (during the last storm) fell onto a baker's van parked on the square for the Saturday market. the roof was badly dented but the baker was back in business next morning. This last tree has fallen onto some sheds in the back gardens of some pleasant Heierstrasse houses, but the main brick wall running along the bordering path, between the gardens and the square, appears to be unscathed.

At any rate, the result is that the Festhalleplatz is looking a lot barer than it should. New trees are desperately needed to bring back some cover and greenness to this historic and popular Viersen square.