Henneckenrode Castle

Henneckenrode Castle is a castle in Henneckenrode in the municipality of Holle in Lower Saxony, built by Heinrich von Saldern in 1579 in the Weser Renaissance style. From 1838, the castle was used as an orphanage. Today, the Caritas Association of the Diocese of Hildesheim operates a children's and youth home there.

The castle building features design elements reminiscent of the Weser Renaissance on its west-facing front with a central risalit. The rear of the building is supported by massive, towering pillars. With its three-sided farmyard, the castle forms a four-wing complex with a large inner courtyard. Since 1988, the castle and its grounds have been listed as a historical monument. The protected ensemble includes, in addition to the castle building, two pavilions, the farmyard, the former castle church, and the landscape park with the 2.6-hectare pond fed by the Nette river. Within the estate and castle complex is St. Joseph's Church, which now belongs to the Catholic parish of St. Hubertus Wohldenberg and was built in 1597 by Burchard von Saldern as the castle church.

In 1999 and 2000, a garden area at the castle was reconstructed in accordance with monument preservation guidelines. In 2012 and 2013, the now silted-up pond was restored and the facades of the castle building were renovated, incurring costs of approximately 800,000 euros.

The present-day village of Henneckenrode was originally a knight's estate, documented as belonging to the Counts of Wohldenberg since the early 13th century. Towards the end of the 13th century, the estate came into the possession of the Bishop of Hildesheim, who granted it as a fief to the von Heere family. After their lineage died out, Burchhard von Saldern became the feudal tenant from 1567. His son Heinrich von Saldern built Henneckenrode Castle between 1579 and 1580. In 1588, a fire occurred at the castle, leading to its reconstruction, though the extent of the damage is not precisely known.

In 1684, Adam Arnold Freiherr von Bocholtz acquired the castle from Aschwin von Saldern. In 1820, it came into the possession of Friedrich Blum, the Hildesheim regional treasurer. In his will of 1831, he stipulated that the castle should be converted into an orphanage run by a foundation. After his death in 1832, the Blum Orphanage Foundation was established, with its management entrusted to the Bishop of Hildesheim by order of the King of Hanover. After renovation work, the orphanage in the castle was opened in 1838 and handed over to the Sisters of Mercy in 1856, who worked there until 1946. Afterwards, the Poor Sisters of St. Francis took over childcare until 2007. During World War II, the castle served as a Wehrmacht hospital from 1942 to 1945.

Today, the castle is used by the Children's and Youth Welfare Henneckenrode of the Caritas Association of the Diocese of Hildesheim. Approximately 30 children and young people live in the castle. The agricultural operation of the former estate is leased out and provides income for the Blum Orphanage Foundation. At the end of 2014, the Diocese of Hildesheim, as the indirect owner of the castle, announced that the facilities of the orphanage foundation would leave the castle and be accommodated at other locations. The reason given was necessary construction measures on the castle building amounting to over 2 million euros, which exceeded the foundation's assets. An initiative of former residents, employees, and local residents formed against the closure of the children's home in the castle.