Ever wondered what secrets lie within these old stones of Haus Langendreer? I am here to tell you its story. This place echoes with tales from centuries past. Haus Langendreer started as a humble farm around 884. Imagine a simple holding. It evolved into something much grander.
The Schulten von Dreer, a noble family, called this place home from about 1300. They transformed it into their family seat by the 15th century. What once was a farm became a moated castle. However, little of that original moated castle remains today. The main house was torn down in 1908.
Let’s journey back to the 14th century. The farm was converted. A stone manor house was built. Both the manor and the farm buildings stood on an island. A moat surrounded everything offering protection.
In 1447, Dietrich von Dreer passed away without children. His sister Bate inherited the estate. She married Arndt von der Borch in 1448. This brought Haus Langendreer into the von der Borch family, who came from East Westphalia.
Fast forward to 1599. Oberst La Berlotte, serving the Spanish, attacked Haus Langendreer. His mission was to eradicate heresy. Dietrich von der Borch had introduced the reformed faith in 1554. The attack caused significant destruction.
By the late 16th century, the family owned many other estates. They left Haus Langendreer. The estate manager took over the house as his residence. In 1642, Franz Dietrich and Allhard Philipp von der Borch divided the inheritance. Allhard Philipp received the Langendreer properties. The family returned and settled here for a while.
Allhard Philipp had the dilapidated house torn down in 1643 or 1645. He built a new two-wing structure with a hipped roof. The simple stone building had two stories. The upper floor housed a knights hall. A staircase led to the entrance. A central stair tower stood in the inner corner. It was topped with a baroque Welsh dome and lantern.
Over the years, the owners were often away. They served as canonesses, officers, officials, and diplomats. In 1792, Adrian Allhard von der Borch gave up Langendreer as a residence. He consolidated all family properties through marriage. An administrator managed the extensive land holdings from then on. The administrator maintained the farm buildings somewhat. The manor house, however, was neglected. In the 1890s, the stair tower collapsed.
In 1905, Alhard Freiherr von der Borch sold Haus Langendreer. The buyer was the Louise Tiefbau mining company. The company paid 10,200 marks for about 138 hectares of land. In 1908, the mining company demolished the dilapidated manor house. They used one remaining farm building as workers’ accommodation.
Today, only parts of the original complex remain. A red paved area bordered by a beech hedge marks the spot where the main building once stood. The remaining structure has been restored recently. The most striking building is the Westbau. It is a longhouse made of quarry stone with a stepped gable. It likely dates back to the Renaissance.
A double-arched stone bridge leads from the west. It crosses the now partially dry moat. It leads to the former gate of the single-story house. The house has served as a barn, courtroom, and workers’ accommodation. A copy of a bell from 1738 hangs in its roof turret. The original bell is in the Märkisches Museum in Witten.
Parts of the former ring wall still exist. You can also see two gate pillars and a corner tower with a tent roof. This is in the northeast of the complex. The tower is sometimes called a prison tower. It displays Renaissance style elements.
Since 1969, Haus Langendreer belongs to the Landschaftsverband Westfalen-Lippe. Three special needs schools for children and teenagers now operate on the grounds.
And so, the story of Haus Langendreer is one of transformation. From farm to noble residence to school, its stones hold layers of history. Each brick whispers tales of families, battles, and changing times.