The old lock lies silent. A relic of a bygone era. This is the Spillenburger Wehr. It stands sentinel over the Ruhr River. A testament to Essen’s industrial past.
The Spillenburger Wehr is more than just a weir. It’s a historical landmark. It played a vital role in Ruhr navigation. This was during the time of Friedrich II. He promoted river traffic. Fifteen other Ruhr locks were built around 1780. The Spillenburger Wehr lock keeper’s house is from that time. Franz Arnold Platte was the last lock keeper. He lived there until his death in 1951.
The old lock on the Hinsel side of the river is unusable. Subsidence from mining caused its demise. It’s now preserved as a monument. A poignant reminder of the forces that shaped the landscape. A new lock was built on the Bergerhausen side. It is 40 meters long and 6 meters wide. It has a head of water of 2.51 meters. A fish pass sits beside the old lock. It is a quiet symbol of nature’s resilience.
The Spillenburger Mühle water power plant is nearby. It’s on the Bergerhausen side. Josef Rettenmaier took over the plant. It was previously a pumping station. He reactivated it in 1989. It generates six million kWh annually. Powering Essen’s local grid. The Spillenburger Wehr is a hub of history and industry.
The nearby Hafen Spiek provided shelter. It protected 50 ships from ice and floods. The Faulefott colliery’s coal depot was located there. This small harbor shows the important role of the Ruhr in coal transport.
The Ruhrverband operates the Spillenburg water level gauge. It measures the water flow. The data is crucial for managing water resources. It helps regulate the Baldeneysee dam and power station. The gauge uses an acoustic method. It measures the speed of water flow.
The former railway line of the Rheinische Eisenbahn-Gesellschaft runs next to the Spillenburger Wehr. Coal was transported from the Ruhr valley to Oberhausen and Duisburg. This rail line is now a cycle path. It winds through Essen’s southern landscape.
A new project called “Neue Insel” is underway. It is on the artificial island formed by the Spillenburger lock. It will include a cycle hotel. There will also be a restaurant and workshops. This project aims for ecological sustainability. The site will use hydroelectric power and heat recovery.
The Spillenburger Wehr. A place of history. A place of industry. A place of quiet contemplation. A place that whispers stories of the past. It is also a place of future development. Its rich past meets its sustainable future. Come and discover this historic site for yourselves.