Perhaps, as you stand here in Eil, you’re wondering how this suburb of Cologne came to be. Eil, the largest suburb in Cologne, boasts a rich history dating back centuries. Let’s step back in time to discover the story of Eil.
The first mention of Eil in historical records appears in 1268. Imagine a small village. Its inhabitants were mostly poor. They worked as day laborers for landowners on nearby manors like Röttgen and Leidenhausen. Life was simple.
Over time, Eil became part of Porz in the Berg territory. The 19th century brought rapid urbanisation. Eil grew into the largest settlement in the Heumar administrative region. Yet it still lacked its own church.
In the early 20th century, Eil finally gained its own identity. The community built St Michael’s Church in 1903 and 1904. Then, in 1917, Eil acquired its own priest. This marked a significant step for the village.
For centuries, Eil’s character was largely agricultural. Fields and forests belonged to the owners of large farms. These included Rittergut Röttgen, Gut Leidenhausen, and Altenberger Hof. Tenant farmers managed these farms. They were considered quite wealthy for their time.
Eil’s location on the road from Siegburg to Mülheim helped local taverns thrive. Farmers often ran these as side businesses. Besides farmers, there were farmhands and day laborers working on the large estates. Basket and broom makers gathered materials from the woods. Eil was not just a “poor broom-making village”. Broom making provided extra income for many families.
The arrival of the railway in the mid-19th century created new jobs. Industrialisation came to Eil. This was mainly through a dynamite factory and later a factory for electric detonators. In 1904, common professions included farmers, railway workers, and broom makers. There were also basket makers and spice merchants.
In 1770, Eil had about 420 residents in 88 houses. By 1846, the population had grown to 760 in 133 houses. A map from 1770 shows the villages along the road to Frankfurt.
Eil had eight wells in 1776. These wells were constructed with wooden windlasses for chains and buckets. Six were privately owned. Co-users shared the maintenance costs. One public well stood near the chapel. It was called Spielpütz. In 2023, a reconstructed version of this well was placed in front of Frankfurter Straße 660.
The village pond was removed after 1907. The marketplace moved from near the chapel to the community area next to the fire station.
In 1975, Eil became part of Cologne. This happened during municipal reform. The town benefited from its location on the edge of Porz. This provided large open spaces. In the 1960s, many Cologne-based companies settled in Eil. These included Deutz AG. In the early 1970s, the first large shopping center in the Cologne area was built here. It was called Plaza.
Today, Eil retains its unique charm. It blends historical elements with modern developments. As you explore Eil, remember its journey from a small village. Think about its growth into a significant part of Cologne.