Perhaps it’s the hexagonal tower that first captures your gaze as we approach Herrenhaus Groß Kedingshagen. This manor house stands on the northern edge of Groß Kedingshagen. It is part of the municipality of Kramerhof in Vorpommern-Rügen. The neogothic Herrenhaus Groß Kedingshagen is more than just a building. It is a landmark with a story etched into its very walls.
Herrenhaus Groß Kedingshagen is a two-story plastered building. It has a distinctive hexagonal tower. The tower features a six-sided lantern top on the south side. To the southeast of the house lies the large estate. This estate features mostly two-story, neogothic brick buildings. These structures date from between 1860 and 1880. North of the Herrenhaus Groß Kedingshagen, a large garden extends. It boasts a considerable stock of trees.
Imagine Johann Heinrich Bartels, a Stralsund shipper. He later became the Royal Belgian Consul. He commissioned the construction of this Herrenhaus Groß Kedingshagen before 1835. After Bartels’ death in 1864, the house and estate transformed. They became a private foundation.
Fast forward to 1928. Paul Gustav Adolf Schirmann acquired the estate and Herrenhaus Groß Kedingshagen. Afterward, it remained in the possession of his daughters and second wife. In 1997, Herrenhaus Groß Kedingshagen entered private ownership. Today, it serves as a residential building.
The extensive renovation by the new owner included restoring the magnificent stucco ceilings inside. Even from a distance, the house built in the mid-19th century is an eye-catcher. It has a large open staircase. In 1907, the property belonged to J. C. Bartels, a Stralsund merchant and consul. Bartels established a family foundation in his testament in 1864. The administrators of the foundation were to be the owners of the property as long as it remained in the family. Around 1937, the heirs of Schirmann acquired the estate.
Herrenhaus Groß Kedingshagen stands not only as a testament to architectural style. It also embodies changing hands and purposes. Its walls have seen families come and go. Each owner has left their mark on this impressive estate.
As you stand here, consider the lives lived within these walls. Consider the legacy of those who shaped this place. Herrenhaus Groß Kedingshagen remains a striking piece of local history. It connects us to the past. It reminds us of the stories woven into the very fabric of this region.