Was Hummelsbüttel always destined to be swallowed by the city? This district in Hamburg was first mentioned in records in 1319 as Humersbotle. The name points to an older Saxon foundation. It suggests a man named Hunmar settled here in the 8th century.
Let’s dive into Hummelsbüttel. In the 13th century, there is evidence of corn trade in Hummelsbüttel. Lambertus de Hummersbutle was mentioned in 1253 and 1266. The Knights of Hummelsbüttel were powerful in Holstein during the 14th century. Johann von Hummersbuttel controlled Alster River traffic from his castle in Stegen. He even attacked Hamburg merchants.
However, in 1349, Johann lost Hummelsbüttel to the Counts. They gave the village to Harvestehude Monastery from the 14th to 16th centuries. Hummelsbüttel changed hands with the Reformation. It went to the County of Holstein-Pinneberg in 1528. The Counts died out in 1640. Hummelsbüttel then fell to Denmark.
Hummelsbüttel remained part of the Eppendorf parish until 1768. This was per the Gottorp Agreement with Hamburg. The village transformed from a farming community in the 17th century. Brick factories arose to meet Hamburg’s growing needs.
In 1841, a grist mill was built. It operated until 1862. The building was moved to Museumsdorf Volksdorf in 1962. It was rebuilt there. Prussia annexed Schleswig-Holstein in 1867. Hummelsbüttel became part of the Stormarn district. The Prussian municipal constitution assigned it to Poppenbüttel in 1889. Hummelsbüttel officially joined Hamburg in 1937. This happened due to the Greater Hamburg Act.
The rural structure of Hummelsbüttel changed completely after the 1950s. Large housing estates like Lentersweg and Tegelsbarg were built in the 1970s. The last steam brick factory closed in 1968. Today, high-rise buildings stand in the former village center. It is now called Hummelsbüttler Markt. But Hummelsbüttel never had a market. Fires destroyed two old buildings. One was a long thatched house with the village inn. The other was Hummelsbüttel’s oldest house dating back to 1672. Only one thatched house remains. It is the former shoemaker’s cottage on Grützmühlenweg.
Danish boundary stones still mark the border. These stones stand up to 1.20 meters tall. They bear the Danish royal coat of arms. They date from 1783 to 1862. These stones marked the border between Pinneberg and Hamburg. Hummelsbüttel belonged to Pinneberg. The Danish king ruled Pinneberg in personal union as Duke of Holstein.
Today, Hummelsbüttel offers green spaces and nature. The Sievertsche Tongrube is a natural monument. The Raakmoor and Hummelsbüttler Moore are nature reserves. The Hummelsbüttler Feldmark is a protected landscape.