Wandhofen

Wandhofen. A name that echoes with the whispers of history, nestled within the city of Schwerte, Kreis Unna. Imagine yourselves transported back to the late Middle Ages. Wandhofen wasn’t just a name on a map, but a bustling Bauerschaft, a self-governing farming community, known as “Wanthaven”. The community belonged to the parish and Amt (administrative district) of Schwerte, under the rule of the powerful Grafschaft Mark. The year is 1486. The Schatzbuch, the tax register of the Grafschaft Mark, reveals the lives of 12 taxpaying residents of Wandhofen. Their contributions, ranging from 2 to 6 Goldgulden, paint a picture of a thriving rural economy. One name stands out: Gabell Biscop, the highest contributor with 6 Goldgulden, perhaps a prominent farmer or landowner in the community. Centuries later, in the 19th century, Wandhofen transformed into a Landgemeinde, a rural municipality, under the newly formed Amt Westhofen within the Kreis Dortmund. The administrative landscape shifted again in 1887. Wandhofen became part of the newly created Kreis Hörde. Let’s step back to 1885 and picture Wandhofen’s landscape: 312 hectares, a mosaic of 143 hectares of arable land, 17 hectares of meadows, and 5 hectares of woodlands. Two Wohnplätze, or settlements, dotted the area, with 33 houses sheltering 60 households and a population of 318. The winds of change continued to reshape Wandhofen’s boundaries. In 1929, with the dissolution of Kreis Hörde, Wandhofen joined the Landkreis Iserlohn. Finally, in 1975, Wandhofen became an integral part of the city of Schwerte, marking a new chapter in its long and winding history. But Wandhofen isn’t just about administrative changes and historical records. Recent archaeological excavations in 2016 unearthed a remarkable Iron Age settlement dating back to the 8th-1st centuries BC. The discoveries include pits, hearths, post houses, and a unique foundation of 18 massive posts. This structure, possibly a storehouse, offers a glimpse into the daily lives of Wandhofen’s earliest inhabitants. This archaeological treasure trove whispers stories of a community that thrived centuries before the written word. Today, as you stand here, Wandhofen continues to evolve, a blend of history and modernity. Its story, etched in the land and its people, is a testament to the enduring spirit of this unique corner of Dortmund.