Flowing quietly into the Ruhr, that’s the Wannenbach. The Wannenbach is a small river with a significant history in this industrial area of Germany. Originating in Wullen, the Wannenbach, also known as Pferdebach, stretches for about 6.6 kilometers.
Did you know that much of the Wannenbach runs underground? In Wullen, the Pferdebach flows in large parts through pipes. Only south of the Witten/Herdecke University, a short section is visible. Until the late 1960s, the Pferdebach flowed openly from its source in Hummelbeck/Wullen. This continued until the former sports field at Pferdebachstrasse.
Imagine the scene. Horses of the postal carriage being refreshed. There used to be a pub named Perdstränke near Marienhospital. In earlier times when the brook was still open, horses were watered here.
Now, consider the Wannenbach’s path. The Wannenbach runs almost parallel to the Witten-Dortmund railway line. The stream resurfaces in the Heven district of Wannen. Much of the flow occurs within a concrete bed. Still, between the 1980s and 1990s, efforts were made to renaturalize the Wannenbach.
The Wannenbach flows through the grounds of the Gussstahl-Werk Witten shortly before joining the Ruhr. Passing the Witten-Wannenbach pumping station, built in 2007, it runs parallel to Herbeder Strasse. The pumping station can discharge up to 21 cubic meters per second into the Wannenbach during heavy rainfall. Additional flood protection measures have been installed along the brook.
Let’s jump back in time. As early as 1263, the lords of Witten operated a mill on the Wannenbach. In 1724, Peter Lange, a manufacturer from Remscheid, built a hammer mill on the Wannenbach. This hammer mill was one of the most important in the Ruhr region until its closure in 1902.
So, the next time you see the Wannenbach, remember its journey. Remember its role in industry and its connection to the Ruhr. It is a small stream but with a long story.