Night Watchman's Tour through HATTINGEN

Hattingen was founded in 1396, had a grain mill—the Birschel Mill, and the textile trade thrived at the flax market, necessitating the construction of a fortification.

In 1554, Hattingen was recognized as Hansisch. This is an association of merchants representing common economic interests. The Hanseatic community is a trading alliance from the 18th century modeled after the Hanse.

Our night watchman Ulli led us from the Old Town Hall, built in 1578 on the old meat hall, to Haldenplatz, which is referred to as

'half square' due to its small size and the shape of a diagonally cut rectangle.

Here also resides the Hattingen Savings Bank, established in 1838. It was one of the first credit institutions in Westphalia, and the safe was a wooden chest in the clerk's bedroom. The first break-in occurred in 1843, and the thief escaped with a hefty 54 talers.

Next, we go to the Iron House, built in 1611 by the merchant Wilhelm Elling, later bequeathed to a cloth makers' guild. To integrate a sausage kitchen and a small shop, butcher Salomon Schmidt later incorporated everything.

Nearby are the Iron People, installed in 1996 by the Polish artist S. Fraczkiewicz for the 600th anniversary. They commemorate the history of steel and iron in the Hattingen Ruhr Valley.

The church square with St. George's Church and its narrow accesses has preserved its medieval layout. The wax candle houses surrounding the roundabout produced candles from beeswax to provide lighting for the church. Some grave slabs from the old cemetery are still preserved.

The most beautiful view is probably from the Painter's Corner with the leaning tower of St. George's Church, the center of the old town.

A small thank you to Ulli, our talking lamp, and the distinctive physiotherapy team from the Alfried Krupp Hospital Steele.