Was it just fields here once? Vormholz has a story that stretches back centuries. Today, we will explore Vormholz. This part of Witten has seen many changes.
Let’s journey back to 1220. A farm existed here. It belonged to a farmer named Große Heidtmann. Life in Vormholz began simply. But Vormholz grew significantly after the 16th century. The Lords of Elverfeldt controlled Herbede. They allowed more farms to be built in Vormholz.
The 19th century changed Vormholz forever. Mining became important. In 1818, only 199 people lived here. By 1889, the population exploded to over 1250. Many small mines appeared in Vormholz. The nearby Muttental also grew. People flocked to Vormholz for work. Over 90 percent of residents were miners or their families. As the small mines closed, Vormholz miners found work in other Herbede industries.
Vormholz became part of Herbede in 1926. This was a significant change for the village.
Today, Vormholz serves mainly as a residential area. It is a place where people live and commute from. Some worry about new construction. They fear Vormholz will lose its charm. The area is surrounded by meadows and forests. Single-family homes dominate Vormholz. Efforts to create a village center have not succeeded. Some small shops exist such as a lottery store. However, Vormholz has lacked a supermarket since the KG Dortmund-Kassel eG went bankrupt in the 1990s.
Burg Hardenstein lies within Vormholz. It is a significant tourist attraction. The Hardenstein nature reserve surrounds the ruins. Parts of the Muttental mining trail are also in Vormholz. These attractions bring visitors to the area.
Until 1974, Vormholz was part of Herbede. In 1975, Herbede merged with Witten. Now, Vormholz is a district of Herbede. Signs still call Vormholz a “Stadtteil” or city part of Witten. This doesn’t change its status as a district within Herbede.
Vormholz even has its own sports club. It is called SV Vormholz. They have a sports hall. However, soccer games take place in Durchholz. After some years in the Kreisliga B, the team plays in the Kreisliga C again.
Heinrich Busse was a graphic artist from Vormholz. He lived from 1900 to 1978.
Vormholz offers a glimpse into the past. It shows how a small farming community transformed into a mining area. Then, it became a residential district. Preserving its unique character remains a key goal for its residents.