Kückenmühle

Journey back to 1325. A watermill, known then as Neddermohle or Neddermühle, stood on the Ihme River. We’re standing at Kückenmühle, a place steeped in history. Kückenmühle has seen centuries pass, witnessing the flow of the Ihme and the lives intertwined with its waters. In 1325, Knight Heinrich von Knigge sold the mill, starting a chain of owners. One notable owner was the Ronnenberg Church. The mill then became known as Priestermühle, possibly also named after the miller, Cord Priester, who worked there in the 16th century. The Lords of Lenthe later took ownership. Tragedy struck during the Thirty Years’ War in 1639 when the mill was destroyed and the miller lost his life. The mill was eventually rebuilt. A ducal privilege in 1656 granted local farmers the right to grind their grain at Priestermühle. This offered an alternative to the windmill on Lindener Berg, although low water levels in the Ihme sometimes posed challenges. By 1700, the powerful Hanoverian Prime Minister, Count von Platen, acquired the mill. The name Kückenmühle comes from Kaspar Kücken, who became the hereditary leaseholder in 1707. His descendants became owners in 1885 and constructed the building we see today in 1892. Sadly, milling operations ceased in 1927. Heinrich Kücken added a swimming pool to the property in 1928. The municipality of Ronnenberg even provided a grant, allowing local school children to use the pool for free. Kücken later obtained permits for a hotel and two restaurants in 1930. The swimming pool closed in the 1960s. The restaurant that evolved from the original two dining rooms still stands. Remnants of Kückenmühle’s past can be found on the roadside, including two millstones. The mill wheel and mill race are gone, now covered by new structures.