Hildesheim is home to the Knochenhaueramtshaus (Butchers’ Guild Hall). It was originally built in 1529 in a Gothic style and served as a meeting place for the butchers’ guild, which was a very wealthy and influential guild in the area during the Middle Ages. The cellar walls were 1.4 metres thick, helping keep temperatures low for storing meat and sausages.
During World War II, many of Hildesheim’s
neighbouring cities were bombed by the Allies, and numerous historic buildings were destroyed. The town council considered dismantling the Butchers’ Guild Hall to preserve it, but this proved impossible. Instead, plaster casts were taken of the most valuable wooden carvings, detailed wooden models were made, and extensive photographs were taken and stored for safekeeping.
The hall was ultimately destroyed on March 22, 1945, by incendiary bombs. In the 1950s, the area was rebuilt with modern concrete buildings, and the original site of the hall was replaced by a seven-storey hotel.
In the 1980s, after the hotel went bankrupt and nearby buildings required redevelopment, the city council decided to reconstruct Hildesheim’s market square in its original style. Residents contributed funds and provided old photos and drawings of the hall. The foundation stone was laid in October 1987. Reconstruction used approximately 400 cubic metres of oak, 7,500 wooden pegs, and 19,000 roof tiles—some of them 150 years old. The project was completed in December 1989 at a cost of about €7 million.
It’s amazing to think that such a detailed reconstruction came from photos, memories, and a community determined to bring their history back to life.
Comments
Post a Comment