Ksiazki
Encyclopedia
Książki ' is a village in Wąbrzeźno County
, Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship
, in north-central Poland. It is the seat of the gmina
(administrative district) called Gmina Książki
. It lies approximately 10 kilometres (6 mi) north-east of Wąbrzeźno
and 45 km (28 mi) north-east of Toruń
.
The village has a population of 1,900.
). In historical sources appears a German name Ksionsken. The village became a member of the starosty of Brodnica. Olędrzy were colonists from the area of the present day Netherlands, Denmark and Rhineland. They were settling in the Duchy of Prussia (Prusy Książęce) and Royal Prussia (Prusy Królewskie) since the half of the 16th century, mainly in Żuławy and Greater Poland. They were reclaiming floodlands and boggy areas, as well as introducing new agricultural techniques. In the 17th and 18th century the name “Olędrzy” was associated with colonists in general, as well as with Poles with long-term lease who settled in the area of north-western Poland. Olęder planting of towns in Poland was a part of the great settlement movement in the area covering not only mentioned regions in Poland but also north coasts of Germany and Denmark. Olędrzy, mainly German colonists, were settling willingly in the area of north-western Poland because they were granted there economic privileges: lease, rent, end of serfdom, Lutherans – freedom of worship, tithe exemption.
The name “Ksionsken” (similar to "Books") does not stem from a book. It should be associated with Ksiądz (Priest) or, more probably, with Książę (Duke). It should be remembered that the charter was granted by the owner of the village, duchess Anna Katarzyna Konstancja, starost of Brodnica.
According to the record of church inspection which took place in 1672, there were Wielkie (Great) and Małe (Small) Książki. They were Dutch villages which were not paying tithe. Małe Książki, a Dutch village, was granted to settlers (there were 51 of them in 1738) in 1720 for 30 years. In 1744 starost of Brodnica had taken Książki Małe on perpetual lease. Starost Pleskowski prolonged the lease for 40 years in 1750. In 1773 Książki was inhabited by 56 peasant families (including 4 Catholics). There was a wooden church dating from 1720. It was surrounded by a cemetery, there was also a bell tower on a scaffolding. An evangelical school was functioning there. When in 1797 the Prussian government sold the estate, it was covering 35 włóka (1 włóka chełmińska = 17.955 ha) , 20 morga (1 morga = about 1 ha), 91 pręt (1 pręt = 5.0292 m) of arable land, 3 włóka of meadows and a big peat bog. According to the record from 1797, the estate Małe Książki was obliged to: pay rent for the government cashier office in Brodnica, provide feed for cavalry, provide horses in case of the king’s visit in the country, send people for wolf hunting
and building fortifications and churches, transport alcohol from the brewery in Kruszyn, maintain flows and drainage ditches from the Sitnowski Canal which were crossing the area of the estate. The land was often changing its owners. In 1828 it was owned by widow Wierzbicka (her maiden name) from Trzcian. In the same year 61 peasants were granted freehold (46 włóka); they were obliged to maintain the Sitnowski Canal. 3 plots were added to Małe Książki in 1873. They previously belonged to Niemieckie (German) Łopatki and were exchanged for 360.08 ha which was used for building the railway Toruń-Olsztyn. The estate changed its owner once again in 1877. One year later, Małe Książki was renamed as “Gut Hohenkirch”. Until 1872 the estate changed its owner twice. The name “Hohenkirch” was used till 1868. A church was being built from 24 July 1868 to 18 June 1869. In 1900 a 4-class school, and 2-class school were under construction. Baptists established in Książki a chapel in 1864.
- When it was located, in 1638, it was called Ksionsken.
- According to the evangelical community of Książki record of baptisms, marriages and deaths, the name was spelled Gros Xiążken (Wielkie Książki). There was also Małe Książki (Klein Xiążken – a landed estate, after the Second World War it was a state- owned farm – Polish PGR).
- In the 19th century, until 1878, an original name was used. (Ksionsken).
- Since 26 June 1878 German administration introduced a new name: Hohenkirch (a high church) after a church existing to the present day is finished.
- After regaining independence of Pomerania, 20 January 1920, the village was given the Polish name Książki.
- From 6 September 1939 to 22 January 1945 (occupation), Germans reintroduced and used the name Hohenkirch
- On 24 January 1945, after regaining independence, the village was given its prewar name – Książki.
It is an interesting detail that in 1902 a new brickyard opened by a landed estate (Małe Książki), which was functioning until 1943, was inscribing on their bricks the name “Ksionsken”. In the records of a Catholic church in Lemborg, that village is called “Xiążki”.
- a primary school - the end of the 19th century
- a house at Główna Street from 1908
- the post office – the beginning of the 20th century
- a cottage from the 19th century
- Teacher’s House, the beginning of the 20th century
Wabrzezno County
Wąbrzeźno County is a unit of territorial administration and local government in Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship, north-central Poland. It came into being on January 1, 1999, as a result of the Polish local government reforms passed in 1998. Its administrative seat and only town is Wąbrzeźno,...
, Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship
Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship
-Transportation:Transportation infrastructure is of critical importance to the voivodeship's economy. Kuyavia-Pomerania is a major node point in the Polish transportation system. Railway lines from the South and East pass through Bydgoszcz in order to reach the major ports on the Baltic Sea...
, in north-central Poland. It is the seat of the gmina
Gmina
The gmina is the principal unit of administrative division of Poland at its lowest uniform level. It is often translated as "commune" or "municipality." As of 2010 there were 2,479 gminas throughout the country...
(administrative district) called Gmina Książki
Gmina Ksiazki
Gmina Książki is a rural gmina in Wąbrzeźno County, Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship, in north-central Poland. Its seat is the village of Książki, which lies approximately north-east of Wąbrzeźno and north-east of Toruń....
. It lies approximately 10 kilometres (6 mi) north-east of Wąbrzeźno
Wabrzezno
Wąbrzeźno is a town in Poland, in the Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship, about 35 km northeast of Toruń. It is the capital of the Wąbrzeźno County...
and 45 km (28 mi) north-east of Toruń
Torun
Toruń is an ancient city in northern Poland, on the Vistula River. Its population is more than 205,934 as of June 2009. Toruń is one of the oldest cities in Poland. The medieval old town of Toruń is the birthplace of the astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus....
.
The village has a population of 1,900.
History
In 1635, 8 families from Silesia settled in Książki. However, a true beginning of the village is 24 June 1638 – the date when a charter according to the Olęder law (the Dutch law) was granted by duchess Anna Katarzyna Konstancja, starost of Brodnica. She settled German colonists there (so called OlędrzyOledrzy
Olędrzy is a Polish term used to describe persons, often of Dutch or German origin or ancestry, who lived in settlements in Poland organized under a particular type of law....
). In historical sources appears a German name Ksionsken. The village became a member of the starosty of Brodnica. Olędrzy were colonists from the area of the present day Netherlands, Denmark and Rhineland. They were settling in the Duchy of Prussia (Prusy Książęce) and Royal Prussia (Prusy Królewskie) since the half of the 16th century, mainly in Żuławy and Greater Poland. They were reclaiming floodlands and boggy areas, as well as introducing new agricultural techniques. In the 17th and 18th century the name “Olędrzy” was associated with colonists in general, as well as with Poles with long-term lease who settled in the area of north-western Poland. Olęder planting of towns in Poland was a part of the great settlement movement in the area covering not only mentioned regions in Poland but also north coasts of Germany and Denmark. Olędrzy, mainly German colonists, were settling willingly in the area of north-western Poland because they were granted there economic privileges: lease, rent, end of serfdom, Lutherans – freedom of worship, tithe exemption.
The name “Ksionsken” (similar to "Books") does not stem from a book. It should be associated with Ksiądz (Priest) or, more probably, with Książę (Duke). It should be remembered that the charter was granted by the owner of the village, duchess Anna Katarzyna Konstancja, starost of Brodnica.
According to the record of church inspection which took place in 1672, there were Wielkie (Great) and Małe (Small) Książki. They were Dutch villages which were not paying tithe. Małe Książki, a Dutch village, was granted to settlers (there were 51 of them in 1738) in 1720 for 30 years. In 1744 starost of Brodnica had taken Książki Małe on perpetual lease. Starost Pleskowski prolonged the lease for 40 years in 1750. In 1773 Książki was inhabited by 56 peasant families (including 4 Catholics). There was a wooden church dating from 1720. It was surrounded by a cemetery, there was also a bell tower on a scaffolding. An evangelical school was functioning there. When in 1797 the Prussian government sold the estate, it was covering 35 włóka (1 włóka chełmińska = 17.955 ha) , 20 morga (1 morga = about 1 ha), 91 pręt (1 pręt = 5.0292 m) of arable land, 3 włóka of meadows and a big peat bog. According to the record from 1797, the estate Małe Książki was obliged to: pay rent for the government cashier office in Brodnica, provide feed for cavalry, provide horses in case of the king’s visit in the country, send people for wolf hunting
Wolf hunting
Wolf hunting is the practice of hunting grey wolves or other lupine animals. Wolves are mainly hunted for sport, for their skins, to protect livestock, and, in some rare cases, to protect humans. Wolves have been actively hunted since 12,000 to 13,000 years ago, when they first began to pose...
and building fortifications and churches, transport alcohol from the brewery in Kruszyn, maintain flows and drainage ditches from the Sitnowski Canal which were crossing the area of the estate. The land was often changing its owners. In 1828 it was owned by widow Wierzbicka (her maiden name) from Trzcian. In the same year 61 peasants were granted freehold (46 włóka); they were obliged to maintain the Sitnowski Canal. 3 plots were added to Małe Książki in 1873. They previously belonged to Niemieckie (German) Łopatki and were exchanged for 360.08 ha which was used for building the railway Toruń-Olsztyn. The estate changed its owner once again in 1877. One year later, Małe Książki was renamed as “Gut Hohenkirch”. Until 1872 the estate changed its owner twice. The name “Hohenkirch” was used till 1868. A church was being built from 24 July 1868 to 18 June 1869. In 1900 a 4-class school, and 2-class school were under construction. Baptists established in Książki a chapel in 1864.
The evolution of the name “Książki”
Książki within the space of about 300 years was changing its name:- When it was located, in 1638, it was called Ksionsken.
- According to the evangelical community of Książki record of baptisms, marriages and deaths, the name was spelled Gros Xiążken (Wielkie Książki). There was also Małe Książki (Klein Xiążken – a landed estate, after the Second World War it was a state- owned farm – Polish PGR).
- In the 19th century, until 1878, an original name was used. (Ksionsken).
- Since 26 June 1878 German administration introduced a new name: Hohenkirch (a high church) after a church existing to the present day is finished.
- After regaining independence of Pomerania, 20 January 1920, the village was given the Polish name Książki.
- From 6 September 1939 to 22 January 1945 (occupation), Germans reintroduced and used the name Hohenkirch
- On 24 January 1945, after regaining independence, the village was given its prewar name – Książki.
It is an interesting detail that in 1902 a new brickyard opened by a landed estate (Małe Książki), which was functioning until 1943, was inscribing on their bricks the name “Ksionsken”. In the records of a Catholic church in Lemborg, that village is called “Xiążki”.
Monuments
- the parish church dedicated to the Holy Trinity from 1867 and a presbytery- a primary school - the end of the 19th century
- a house at Główna Street from 1908
- the post office – the beginning of the 20th century
- a cottage from the 19th century
- Teacher’s House, the beginning of the 20th century