Merklinde

Around 1150 Mediclinne a small farming community was mentioned. That’s the origin of Merklinde. Merklinde was once a tightly knit settlement. Nine farms made up its heart. They were surrounded by fertile fields covering 652 Morgen. A rumor persisted. People whispered of a knight’s estate hidden in Merklinde. The truth was different. One Merklinde farm belonged to Haus Bladenhorst. In 1332 a knight built a chapel near Bladenhorst Castle. He equipped it with the Thedingsgut in Merklinde. He acquired it after the Castrop knightly family died out. Around 1500 names appeared suggesting noble owners. Wessel von Merklinne married Else von Overncastrop-Lakenburg. The Theding estate lost its noble status in the 16th century. It became a simple farm. Between 1880 and 1960 the Ruhr mining boom changed Merklinde. Miners arrived from the eastern German territories. They worked in the four surrounding collieries. Local businesses thrived. There was the Lessmöllmann brickyard. Jos Klonder’s smithy stood until 2016. Büchter’s distillery produced spirits. Merklinde’s population grew during this time. It reached a peak in 1961. The local football club SuS Merklinde remains a vital part of community life. The ABC Merklinde billiards club is Germany’s most successful. They play in the top league. The railway station Castrop-Rauxel-Merklinde offers connections. The Emschertalbahn RB 43 line serves it. It links Merklinde to Dortmund and other Ruhr cities. Bus lines 364 and 378 connect Merklinde to the wider area. The B 235 road runs through Merklinde. This connects it to Senden Münster and Witten. Merklinde’s industrial area thrives. Companies like Thimm Verpackung and ALSCO operate there. Merklinde still struggles though. It lacks a doctor and pharmacy. The local bank closed in 2016. The last grocery store vanished in the late 1990s. A Turkish supermarket Naz Market opened in 2019 in the old post office. The nearest supermarkets are across the Dortmund border. The last pub closed in 2016. Now there are two takeaways. St Marien church’s kindergarten remains open. The Friedrich Harkort elementary school closed in 2013. Its future use is uncertain. The Bürgerverein Wir sind Merklinde formed in 2017. They aim to improve Merklinde’s infrastructure. Despite its challenges Merklinde’s spirit endures. Its history and community are woven into its very fabric. Come explore the unique charm of Merklinde. Discover its rich story for yourself.