Seven stars blazing. That’s what the Zeche Siebenplaneten was named after. The Pleiades a constellation in Greek mythology. Seven daughters of Atlas protected by Zeus. Their story is woven into the very fabric of this mine.
Zeche Siebenplaneten a significant coal mine in Langendreer. Part of Bochum’s rich industrial heritage. It operated for nearly two centuries. A testament to the hard work and determination of countless miners.
The Zeche’s origins trace back further. To 1733 to be exact. The Siebenplaneten Erbstolln a small mine. It began as a humble operation. Later it expanded. In 1857 several mines including the Erbstolln were consolidated. They formed what we now know as the Zeche Siebenplaneten.
The Eduard shaft was sunk in 1870. It reached the Carboniferous layer that year. However. It was damaged. Repairs were made. The shaft became operational in 1875. A second shaft Mathilde followed in 1891. A zechenbahn connected the mine to the railway network. It facilitated the transport of coal. This was crucial for its operation. A coke oven operated from 1879 to 1924. It processed coal into coke a valuable fuel for industries.
The Zeche Siebenplaneten grew. In 1929 it expanded. It took over the neighboring Zeche Constanze. This boosted its production. But times changed. World War II and postwar industrial shifts impacted the mine. In 1944 it was taken over by Zeche Neu-Iserlohn. Coal production at Siebenplaneten ceased in 1955. The shafts were filled in 1957. The surface structures were demolished.
Today little remains of the Zeche Siebenplaneten. But its legacy lives on. The Siebenplanetenstraße in Somborn is a reminder. A local bus stop bears its name. The story of the Zeche Siebenplaneten is more than just coal. It’s a tale of human endeavor. Of myth and industry. Of a starlit constellation and a hard-won industry. It’s a piece of Dortmund’s soul.