Around 1124 a document mentions Byfang for the first time. It was called Rellinkuoser biefang then. This refers to the clearing and land reclamation around the area. Byfang is a southeastern borough of Essen. It has a rural character. It lies at an average height of 114 meters above sea level. The highest point is nearly 190 meters at the Byfang water tower. This makes Byfang one of the highest districts in Essen.
The name Byfang comes from the Old German word Bifang. This means an enclosed field or farmland integrated into the existing settlement. In this case it was the land of the Rellinghausen convent. This convent was founded around 996 by Abbess Mathilde. She was a granddaughter of Emperor Otto I. The convent needed land for its own support. It received areas on the other side of the Ruhr. These included Hinsel Holthausen and Byfang. Some farms in Rellinghausen and Hardenberg were also included.
The convent’s worldly possessions and jurisdiction were managed by a provost. Over time these provosts gained more power. The Rellinghausen convent also tried to become independent from the Essen convent. After long disputes they returned to Essen in 1661. The provost gave up his hereditary provostship. In compensation he received 1800 thalers and Byfang as his own area of rule and jurisdiction.
In the 14th and 15th centuries Byfang belonged to the Duchy of Berg. The Ruhr is still seen as the northern border of the Bergisches Land. Byfang had its own court until 1812. The provost of Rellinghausen was the judge. The court was initially at the Breuerhof. Later it moved to a courthouse which also served as a community center. The Byfang court was demolished after a fire in 1817. During construction work in the 1970s a digger broke into the underground dungeon of the court. The area where the courthouse stood was added to Essen-Kupferdreh for traffic reasons after World War II. The area is still called Alt-Byfang.
Byfang was incorporated into Essen on August 1 1929. Today it is a quiet and rural area with a strong community spirit. The St Barbara church is a central point. It was built in 1928/29 and is one of the highest churches in the Ruhr region. Byfang has a rich history of its own court schools and community life. It’s a place where the past and present intertwine creating a unique identity. The area retains a distinct character. It combines rural charm with its proximity to the larger city of Essen.