Speck/Wehl/Helpenstein

Is this where ancient hunters roamed? We are standing in Speck/Wehl/Helpenstein, a district of Neuss that blends seamlessly into the city’s fabric. Yet, this place holds whispers of a time long before Neuss rose to prominence. Imagine a time 5,000 years ago when the land around Speck/Wehl/Helpenstein was a hunting ground for Stone Age people. Their presence, though invisible to our modern eyes, echoes through the millennia. Speck/Wehl/Helpenstein itself first appeared in historical records much later. Wehl emerged in 817, its name likely a testament to the wetlands that once defined the area. Helpenstein, originally known as “Harpern”, followed in 1148. It seems peace wasn’t always a resident here. In 1314, a dispute over the area involving the Helpenstein family caught the attention of the powerful Archbishop of Cologne, Heinrich II of Virneburg. He resolved the conflict by acquiring the land, solidifying the Church’s influence in this part of the world. Our journey through Speck/Wehl/Helpenstein’s past wouldn’t be complete without acknowledging the turbulent times of 1670. Speck and Wehl fell under the jurisdiction of the Kurköln court in Hückelhoven and the parish of Neukirchen. This interconnected web of settlements included Gubisrath, Haus Horr, Lübisrath, Mülrath, Münchrath, Norbisrath and the deserted village of Röblinghoven. Meanwhile, Helpenstein consisted of 17 houses, a stark contrast to the sprawling suburbs we see today. It’s a reminder that Speck/Wehl/Helpenstein, like the city it’s part of, has been shaped by countless stories of conflict, change, and resilience over thousands of years.