Herzford Castle

In 890, the name "Hriesforda" (Hirschfurt, deer ford) was first mentioned in writing in the Werden register of tributes. In the Lingen region, the Ems formed several "Slipse" (also "Schlipse"), referring to a small strip of land. At that time, there were extensive deciduous forests with clayey soil along the Ems, where many deer also stayed. Today, meter-thick leaf deposits are still found in some parts of the Ems. A few years ago, well-preserved deer antlers were a sensational find in the Ems riverbed.

The name Herzford developed from the original name Hirschfurt. Some sources (registers, maps, documents...) give various spellings, including Herzeforth, Herzenfurth, Herseforth, Hersenword, Herssevoerde, and Herzfurt(h).

Castle "thor Slips" (1336–1400) and Herzford Castle (Construction 1732/1734)

Bishop Ludwig II of Münster (1310–1357) had important reasons to build the castle "thor Slips bey Herzeforth" in 1336. The bulwark was intended to be directed against Count Nikolaus I, called Claus, of Tecklenburg on the one hand, and against the predatory Bentheimers (County of Bentheim) and Ottensteiners (County of Ahaus) on the other. With this, the bishop wanted to protect his Emsland possessions and secure the important connection via the main road from Rheine via Meppen to his northern Emsland territories, the Hümmling and East Frisia, which led to the left-Ems district of Elbergen. From the northern part to the southern part of the Diocese of Münster, the "connecting piece" Herzford was just 5 km at its narrowest point between the Counties of Bentheim (in the west) and Tecklenburg (in the east).

A Baron von Langen is demonstrably named as the first castellan with the words "uppe dat hus, dat he tymmern denket thor slipse". Shortly before its completion in 1337, the castle was destroyed by the two Counts Nikolaus I of Tecklenburg and Count Simon of Bentheim.

Only in 1346 was the castle rebuilt at the instigation of the Münster Bishop Ludwig II. At the same time, he had to make great concessions to Count Otto III of Bentheim, including accepting him as the new castellan.

In 1363, Bishop Johann I of Münster appointed Baron Cord von Langen as castellan. Count Otto VI of Tecklenburg attacked the castle and destroyed it. Bishop Heidenreich of Münster had a new castle built in 1385 near the old castle at the Slipse. He allied himself with Bishop Dietrich of Osnabrück and together they marched against Count Otto VI of Tecklenburg until the Count was defeated. Castle "thor Slips" was under Münster ministerial administration.

In 1400, Count Nikolaus II of Tecklenburg renounced all rights to the castle with the declaration: "an dem Slote van Herssevorede by der Slypse". This became meaningless and was razed. In 1432, the estate passed to Count Hermann von Münster from the Meinhövel and Botzlar lineage.

From 1732 to 1734, the present Herzford Castle was built on the foundations of the demolished castle. The cross vaults in the cellar of the former castle have been preserved to this day.

Eventful History through Numerous Owners

After the futile attempts of Bishop Ludwig II of Münster to establish the castle "thor Slips" against Lingen, his successor Bishop Heidenreich of Münster continued the fight against Count Nikolaus II of Tecklenburg. Weakened by a long and unfavorable feud with Osnabrück, he initially sought peace. The soon rekindled hostilities found a very costly conclusion for him after the capture of the Count. Thus, on June 20, 1400, he had to renounce all rights to the Herzford estate and to the left-Ems main road between Rheine and Meppen. After the breaking of Tecklenburg's power, Herzford lost its military significance and the castle was demolished. The Herzford estate district came under Münster administration in 1400.

In 1432, it was in the possession of Count Hermann von Münster from the Meinhövel and Botzlar lineage, who, when he was enfeoffed in that year with his family's castle fief located in front of Bentheim Castle, was referred to as "Lord of Herzford". In 1442, he married Gertrud von Langen, whose coat of arms featured lozenges, in his second marriage. The marriage remained childless. Herzford passed to his nephew Count Heinrich, son of Hermann's brother Count Bernhard (his wife Johanna von Ruinen, heiress of the Lordship of Ruinen). Count Heinrich von Münster was married to Agnes de Vos van Steenwijk. His son Count Roleff von Münster, married to Maria von Selbach, was enfeoffed with the Bentheim castle fief in 1515 and thus became Lord of Herzford until his death.

In 1519, his widow Maria and his son Count Roleff von Münster received this enfeoffment, which was renewed for him in 1535 and 1563. Roleff became Drost of the Dutch office of Coevorden and the province of Drenthe. He was married to Ida von Onsta zu Sauvert. Their common son was named Roleff, like his father. Both can be admired today as large oil portraits in the Emslandmuseum in Lingen.

Their son, Count Roleff von Münster, appears in the Münster Landtag lists from 1591 until 1654, the year of his death, concerning Herzford. The enfeoffment with the Bentheim castle fief was granted to him in 1606. His marriage to Ela von Mönnich zu Eickhof remained childless. One of his sisters, Theodora, was married to Casper von Loen zu Borgenstede. The Herzford estate then passed to their son, the Rittmeister Franz Roland von Loen.

In 1657, Rittmeister Franz Roland von Loen donated a new altar to the church in Schepsdorf. He is still mentioned at Herzford in 1675. He was married to Marie Sophie von Loe zu Overdycke. Their son Johann Casper Rotger von Loen, who was enfeoffed with Herzford in 1700, died on November 13, 1702. With his wife Wilhelmine Johanna von Walfeld zu Klinke, he left behind a daughter Rotgera, who was married to Baron van Dongen. She was granted the enfeoffment of the Herzford estate in 1703 and 1708.

Subsequently, she sold Herzford to the Prince-Bishop of Münster, Franz Arnold von Wolff-Metternich, on October 30, 1714, through the Münster court and chamber councilor Anton Helweg. On December 24, 1718, Prince-Bishop Franz Arnold von Münster sold the estate for 8,000 Reichstaler to Colonel Hermann Werner Joseph von Schorlemer (from the Overhagen line) and moved into the manor house in Herzford. The Schorlemer family belonged to the most important noble families of the Westphalian ancient nobility.

Between 1717 and 1723, the castle was built on the foundations of the "thor Slipse" castle according to the design of the famous Münster master builder Gottfried Laurenz Pictorius. He was the architect of, among others, Nordkirchen Water Castle, Dankern Castle, and numerous noble estates in Münsterland. Only in 2011 was the building history of the castle redefined: samples of the building timbers were taken, and the felling date was determined by dendrochronological analysis. Until then, it had always been assumed that the construction period was between 1732 and 1734. A historical correction must be made here.

Above the castle portal and in the gable field of the rear side, the alliance coat of arms of the couple is affixed. Hermann Werner Joseph von Schorlemer later became Lieutenant General and Commander of the Münster troops. With his first wife, Baroness Antoinette Christine von Brabeck, he lived at Herzford Estate, where he also established a chapel and employed a house chaplain.

In 1740, Hermann Werner Joseph von Schorlemer agreed with the community of Elbergen that the house chaplain could hold services in the local chapel on weekdays from Emsbüren. Schorlemer built a tower at the Elbergen chapel and organized a large festival, which is still celebrated today with a large procession.

Antoinette Christine von Schorlemer, née Baroness von Brabeck, died on June 12, 1735. Hermann Werner Joseph von Schorlemer then entered into a second marriage with Maria Alexandrine von Korff-Schmising zu Tatenhausen. Clemens August von Bayern, Prince-Bishop of Münster and Elector of Cologne, approved that Hermann Werner Joseph von Schorlemer could bequeath the estate to his second wife. A statue still stands at Herzford, on whose pedestal both coats of arms with the year 1742 are affixed.

Around 1750, Johann Conrad Schlaun, probably the most important master builder of Westphalian Baroque, lived here for some time, intending to implement his "Planum von Herseforth". This was to combine the lightness of Dutch parterre embroidery around a fountain basin with the precisely geometric, but then spatially massive penetration of moats and basins. A pavilion was to stand at the end of the garden along the central axis. Another plan draft between 1775 and 1780 by Schlaun shows the layout of the gate and farm buildings and also the course of the moat in the garden. The plan was not implemented because utility was paramount. In addition to the castle, the following plans were realized: the graceful gate pavilions with mansard roofs next to the high bridge piers, which had to be demolished in 1950 due to dilapidation. In addition, the design of the forecourt, the bridge system, the two pillars at the entrance to the castle, the stables, and the aforementioned garden grounds were added. The single-story manor house with a high hip roof is built of small-format bricks, corner teeth, windows, and door frames are made of sandstone. At the rear, two small wing extensions are pushed out. The high basement is covered with stone cross vaults. It contains a spacious kitchen with storage rooms and a small house chapel. Of the farm buildings flanking the front of the house, only the southern one remains.

Both marriages of Hermann Werner Joseph von Schorlemer remained childless. Upon his death in 1766, the relatives of his second wife, Maria Alexandrine von Korff-Schmising zu Tatenhausen, laid claim to the Herzford estate. Baron Franz Otto von Korff gen. Schmising was enfeoffed with the estate in 1767 but lost the ensuing legal dispute. Thus, the Herzford estate passed instead to the son of Schorlemer's sister Maria Anna Theresa Sophie (1670–1716), Count Carl Franz von Nesselrode. Maria Anna Theresa Sophie von Schorlemer was married to Baron Franz Carl von Nesselrode zu Ereshofen. Their common son and now Lord of Herzford, Count Carl Franz von Nesselrode, was married to Anna von Loe zu Wissen. Count Franz Carl claimed one third of the moorland fields of the Elberger Mark, which was granted to him after a long process with the commoners. After his death, his son Count Carl Franz Alexander von Nesselrode inherited the Herzford estate. He was married to Countess Josepha von Hatzfeld-Wildenburg and had only one child, his daughter Auguste Caroline. After her father's death in 1780, she became the heiress "Lady of Herzford". At the age of 15, she was promised to her cousin Count Johann Wilhelm Carl von Nesselrode-Reichenstein to marry him. Since there was an impediment to marriage, the marriage was not consummated.

Auguste Caroline lived with her mother Josepha in Ereshofen. The former Hanoverian officer Gustav von Müller abducted her from there. After the annulment of his first marriage, the couple was married in Herzford. During the French period, he was Maire (= mayor) of Emsbüren, Salzbergen, and Schepsdorf.

In 1810, Gustav von Müller received common land valued at 1000 Dutch florins (then currency) for the maintenance of Sunday services in the Elbergen chapel. During the division of the common land, the Herzford estate was allocated one third of the forest stock of the Elberger Mark. The estate received further large additions during the division of the Schepsdorfer and Lohner Mark, in which he was also entitled.

Gustav von Müller lived at Herzford Estate until 1832, then moved his residence to Vresdorf Estate (near the city of Bardowick, near Lüneburg), which had fallen to his son, the Justice Councilor and later Vice President of Lüneburg, Karl Wilhelm Viktor von Müller, by inheritance. He leased the estate to Baron von Litzog, who transferred it around 1835 to Baron von Busch. The latter appointed Mr. von Gruneweg from Brandenburg as tenant. Karl Wilhelm Viktor von Müller sold the Herzford estate on December 10, 1847, for 38,000 Thalers to Captain Baron Ferdinand von Morsey gen. Picard, a nobleman from the House of Krebsburg, who had previously leased the estate. In 1852, the size of the estate was approximately 467 ha. Morsey gen. Picard transferred it to his son Konstantin on November 23, 1849.

Baron Ferdinand von Morsey gen. Piccard sold the Herzford estate (approx. 2,600 Morgen) on July 14, 1853, to Duke Prosper August von Arenberg (1824–1875) for 28,000 Thalers. The estate was further inherited by his descendants. By order of the Duke, the Herzford estate was administered as a leased property by his domain chamber in Meppen. The estate included arable land, meadows, moorland, and forest, and covered an area of 363 ha. The noble family of Arenberg was a member of the European high nobility. This noble family had received, among other things, the previously Münster office of Meppen in 1803 as compensation for their lost territories on the left bank of the Rhine. In the years around 1830 and primarily between 1860 and 1910, the Duke bought large areas of heath and drifting sand from the divided common lands and successfully reforested them.

From 1928 to 1933, the Duke of Arenberg brought his real estate located in the German Reich into regional GmbHs. The Herzford forest estate thus came to Arenberg-Meppen GmbH, based in Nordkirchen until 1967, and in Meppen since then. Herzford Castle has long been used as a forest service homestead for the surrounding protected forest district or forest service district. From approx. 1877 to 1903, the forest ranger Johann Hermann Altmeppen resided here. Subsequently, his son Hermann Altmeppen was based here as forest ranger, then his nephew Bernhard Hermann Altmeppen worked as chief forest ranger until 1976, residing at Herzford Castle until 1969. In 1970, Arenberg-Meppen GmbH sold Herzford Castle to the Lingen merchant and managing director of a holding company (textile company) Bernhard Merswolke, who had the building and grounds thoroughly renovated. It was important to the bourgeois castle owner Merswolke to adhere to the original plans and restore the "original state".

In the summer of 2011, the two pavilions to the left and right of the bridge at the castle entrance were faithfully restored. The effort increased because the special roof covering had to consist of tower beaver-tail tiles, and over 6,000 pieces had to be handcrafted abroad. Now the pavilions shine in their original splendor.

Church Affiliation

Already at its first documented mention in 890, Herzford was located in the Diocese of Münster.

In 1740, Hermann Werner Joseph von Schorlemer agreed with the community of Elbergen that the house chaplain could hold services in the local chapel on weekdays from Emsbüren, who was responsible for ecclesiastical duties but did not officiate. Schorlemer built a tower at the Elbergen chapel and endowed a mass for the feast of Saint John of Nepomuk on May 16, 1740, which is still celebrated today with a large procession. Pope Benedict XIII granted a general indulgence to the chapel for this day.

The Herzford estate had a church seat in the chapel in Elbergen and in the church in Schepsdorf. The estate owners had a hereditary burial plot in the Schepsdorf cemetery. In 1810, Gustav von Müller received common land valued at 1000 Dutch florins (then currency) for the maintenance of Sunday services in the Elbergen chapel. During the division of the common land, the Herzford estate was allocated one third of the forest stock of the Elberger Mark. The estate received further large additions during the division of the Schepsdorfer and Lohner Mark, in which he was also entitled.

According to the latest agreements with the Elbergen residents, the Lord of Herzford also had to arrange for an early mass. The last castle chaplain was Reverend D. Berg. When he became parish priest of Beesten in 1888, the Duke of Arenberg, on July 5, 1892, redeemed all ecclesiastical obligations of the estate owner through a one-time payment of 20,000 Marks.

Through the founding of the Federal Republic of Germany and the establishment of the state of Lower Saxony in 1949 and the district of Lingen, Herzford belongs to the Diocese of Osnabrück.

At the first mention of Herzford, the forest consisted predominantly of deciduous trees. Native animals, including hares, wild boars, roe deer, and deer, "inhabited" the forest and meadows. Originally, Herzford had only a small, independent estate area when the district and the castle were established. Reports indicate that even in the 18th century, the Elbergen grazing cattle were watered from the castle moat. The estate grew under the ownership of Schorlemer, to whom the Elbergen commoners had granted larger common lands in return for his donation (tower construction) to the local chapel.

On the edge of the Herzford forest, a post mill stood between 1700 and 1939. This type of windmill is the oldest in Europe. Typical of its construction is that the mill house stood on a thick post, the "buck". Depending on the wind direction, the entire mill could be turned into the wind by muscle power. This method was arduous.

In 1847, the rights of the estate were listed as follows: Landtag eligibility, i.e., an independent estate district with representation in the Landtag; private hunting on the estate, coupled hunting, i.e., communal hunting in the parishes of Schepsdorf, Emsbüren, and Salzbergen and the Münster enclaves on the right bank of the Ems with the authority to employ a salaried hunter and also to issue two hunting permits. Fishing on the Ems was only permitted on the Herzford side along the estate boundary of approximately one mile (1.61 km).

In 1852, the size of the estate comprised 617 Morgen (2.497 km²) of farm land, 800 Morgen of land in the large moor, 14 Morgen of woodland, and 22 Morgen of meadows in the Elberger Mark, as well as 100 Morgen in the Fuhrenkämpen of the Lohner Mark. Through land purchases and further requests, the area of Herzford increased to approximately 467 ha. Forest workers erected a wayside cross in the Herzford forest in 1879 with their own funds.

In the 1970s, the Heuerling families Bertling, Lambers, Menger, Rickling, Schomaker, and Wenning moved to Schepsdorf. The former estate district also includes the farmsteads Schoffelhof (now the Berling family), Bekel (later Bickers), and Hofschlag.

The forests of the surrounding Herzford forest estate are owned by Arenberg-Meppen GmbH. Since 1989, the non-profit "Stiftung Herzog Engelbert-Charles und Herzogin Mathildis von Arenberg" (Duke Engelbert-Charles and Duchess Mathildis of Arenberg Foundation), named after the last owner couple, has been the sole shareholder. In the 1980s, the forest estate lost larger forest areas in the north due to the construction of federal highway B 213 and in the 1990s in the west due to the construction of autobahn A 31. These areas were regained through purchases, mainly in the northwest, and most recently through land exchange, reaching their previous size by 2010. Today, the Herzford property comprises forest and agricultural areas of approximately 467 ha (4.67 km²).

The Herzford forest is a mixed forest and consists predominantly of pines, oaks, spruces, larches, beeches, and Douglas firs.