Lage, Lower Saxony
Encyclopedia
Lage is a community on the river Dinkel in the district of Grafschaft Bentheim in Lower Saxony
with roughly 1,000 inhabitants. It belongs to the Joint Community (Samtgemeinde) of Neuenhaus
.
Of particular sightseeing interest are the church, built in 1687, the watermill
, built in 1270, the castle
ruins (first mentioned in a document in 1183, destroyed in 1324–1326 and 1626), the lordly manor, built in 1686 and the historic Oak Avenue with the manor staff’s old houses.
The extended name Herrlichkeit Lage – “Herrlichkeit” means grandness or magnificence – refers to the time between the end of the Thirty Years' War
and the year 1803, in which Lage was a self-standing small state with its own jurisdiction.
The biggest club is the sport club, Rot-Weiß Lage 29 e. V. (about 700 members).
. Between 1324 and 1326, the castle came to be destroyed during the Guelders
Feud under Bishop Ludwig of Münster.
From 1329 to 1330, Bishop Johann of Utrecht built the castle anew for his ally Hermann von Lage, who in 1346 sold the bishop “dat huys toe Lage” (“the house at Lage”), although it remained in von Lage’s hands because the purchase price was not fully paid. In 1380, Bishop Florenz of Utrecht raided Lage Castle, leading to much of it being destroyed. Between 1439 and 1447, it was once again built anew, this time by Bishop Rudolf of Utrecht. Lage was at this time an episcopal seat occupied by a steward, and now and then it was lent out as a pledge.
In 1523 the castle came under fire by Guelders troops, to whom the castle was given up. In 1592, there was yet more building, and there arose a fortlike castle with a house chapel, built by the liege lord Dietrich von Ketteler to whom the castle had been pledged in 1576 and enfeoffed in 1590, whereafter Lage, along with the Bishopric of Utrecht, was transferred to Emperor Charles V
, and then from him to his son Philip II of Spain
in 1555. In 1626, the Renaissance
castle was besieged in the Eighty Years’ War
by the Dutch, and since then it has lain in ruins.
The watermill in Lage an der Dinkel was first mentioned in a document in 1270, and likewise a garnishment document from 1377 speaks of a mill in Lage. It was only about 200 years later, however, that approval was given by then King Philip II of Spain, as ruler of the Netherlands
, to build a mill on the river Dinkel. It is supposed that this was a reconstruction or expansion of an existing mill, but what it was precisely is not known.
As it appears today, the mill looks as though it is from the late 17th century. A distinguishing feature is the two undershot waterwheels that drive both a grist mill and an oil mill. In the early years of the 20th century, electricity
was also generated at the mill
to supply the local community. After the First World War, the oil mill was shut down. The grist mill kept running until 1957, although as of 1931 it had no longer been driven by water power, but rather by a diesel engine
. After the last miller’s death, the mill stood empty.
When the building was threatening to fall down, the most urgent safety work was begun in 1962. Ten years later, the district of Grafschaft Bentheim brought about a comprehensive restoration on the mill, giving it once more its two waterwheels, as well as undoing building work that had been done on the river itself in the 1930s and restoring the weir
to improve flow rates. In the years up until 1976, the milling machinery was overhauled so that today, on selected days, the mill can now be run again. In the former miller’s dwelling, a tea parlour was set up after the restoration.
Lower Saxony
Lower Saxony is a German state situated in north-western Germany and is second in area and fourth in population among the sixteen states of Germany...
with roughly 1,000 inhabitants. It belongs to the Joint Community (Samtgemeinde) of Neuenhaus
Neuenhaus
Neuenhaus is a town in the district of Grafschaft Bentheim in Lower Saxony, and is the seat of a like-named Joint Community . Neuenhaus lies on the river Vechte near the border with the Kingdom of the Netherlands and is roughly 10 km northwest of Nordhorn, and 30 km north of...
.
Of particular sightseeing interest are the church, built in 1687, the watermill
Watermill
A watermill is a structure that uses a water wheel or turbine to drive a mechanical process such as flour, lumber or textile production, or metal shaping .- History :...
, built in 1270, the castle
Castle
A castle is a type of fortified structure built in Europe and the Middle East during the Middle Ages by European nobility. Scholars debate the scope of the word castle, but usually consider it to be the private fortified residence of a lord or noble...
ruins (first mentioned in a document in 1183, destroyed in 1324–1326 and 1626), the lordly manor, built in 1686 and the historic Oak Avenue with the manor staff’s old houses.
The extended name Herrlichkeit Lage – “Herrlichkeit” means grandness or magnificence – refers to the time between the end of the Thirty Years' War
Thirty Years' War
The Thirty Years' War was fought primarily in what is now Germany, and at various points involved most countries in Europe. It was one of the most destructive conflicts in European history....
and the year 1803, in which Lage was a self-standing small state with its own jurisdiction.
The biggest club is the sport club, Rot-Weiß Lage 29 e. V. (about 700 members).
Castle
In 1183 came the first documentary mention of the castle at Lage, and of a Hermann von Lage, who between 1173 and 1183 was Capitular at MünsterMünster
Münster is an independent city in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. It is located in the northern part of the state and is considered to be the cultural centre of the Westphalia region. It is also capital of the local government region Münsterland...
. Between 1324 and 1326, the castle came to be destroyed during the Guelders
Guelders
Guelders or Gueldres is the name of a historical county, later duchy of the Holy Roman Empire, located in the Low Countries.-Geography:...
Feud under Bishop Ludwig of Münster.
From 1329 to 1330, Bishop Johann of Utrecht built the castle anew for his ally Hermann von Lage, who in 1346 sold the bishop “dat huys toe Lage” (“the house at Lage”), although it remained in von Lage’s hands because the purchase price was not fully paid. In 1380, Bishop Florenz of Utrecht raided Lage Castle, leading to much of it being destroyed. Between 1439 and 1447, it was once again built anew, this time by Bishop Rudolf of Utrecht. Lage was at this time an episcopal seat occupied by a steward, and now and then it was lent out as a pledge.
In 1523 the castle came under fire by Guelders troops, to whom the castle was given up. In 1592, there was yet more building, and there arose a fortlike castle with a house chapel, built by the liege lord Dietrich von Ketteler to whom the castle had been pledged in 1576 and enfeoffed in 1590, whereafter Lage, along with the Bishopric of Utrecht, was transferred to Emperor Charles V
Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor
Charles V was ruler of the Holy Roman Empire from 1519 and, as Charles I, of the Spanish Empire from 1516 until his voluntary retirement and abdication in favor of his younger brother Ferdinand I and his son Philip II in 1556.As...
, and then from him to his son Philip II of Spain
Philip II of Spain
Philip II was King of Spain, Portugal, Naples, Sicily, and, while married to Mary I, King of England and Ireland. He was lord of the Seventeen Provinces from 1556 until 1581, holding various titles for the individual territories such as duke or count....
in 1555. In 1626, the Renaissance
Renaissance
The Renaissance was a cultural movement that spanned roughly the 14th to the 17th century, beginning in Italy in the Late Middle Ages and later spreading to the rest of Europe. The term is also used more loosely to refer to the historical era, but since the changes of the Renaissance were not...
castle was besieged in the Eighty Years’ War
Dutch Revolt
The Dutch Revolt or the Revolt of the Netherlands This article adopts 1568 as the starting date of the war, as this was the year of the first battles between armies. However, since there is a long period of Protestant vs...
by the Dutch, and since then it has lain in ruins.
Lordly manor
The manor was built in 1686 by Amadea von Raesfeld née von Vlodrup as a widow’s seat in classicist Dutch style. In 1762, the eastward side wing was built onto it.Watermill
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
, to build a mill on the river Dinkel. It is supposed that this was a reconstruction or expansion of an existing mill, but what it was precisely is not known.
As it appears today, the mill looks as though it is from the late 17th century. A distinguishing feature is the two undershot waterwheels that drive both a grist mill and an oil mill. In the early years of the 20th century, electricity
Electricity
Electricity is a general term encompassing a variety of phenomena resulting from the presence and flow of electric charge. These include many easily recognizable phenomena, such as lightning, static electricity, and the flow of electrical current in an electrical wire...
was also generated at the mill
Hydroelectricity
Hydroelectricity is the term referring to electricity generated by hydropower; the production of electrical power through the use of the gravitational force of falling or flowing water. It is the most widely used form of renewable energy...
to supply the local community. After the First World War, the oil mill was shut down. The grist mill kept running until 1957, although as of 1931 it had no longer been driven by water power, but rather by a diesel engine
Diesel engine
A diesel engine is an internal combustion engine that uses the heat of compression to initiate ignition to burn the fuel, which is injected into the combustion chamber...
. After the last miller’s death, the mill stood empty.
When the building was threatening to fall down, the most urgent safety work was begun in 1962. Ten years later, the district of Grafschaft Bentheim brought about a comprehensive restoration on the mill, giving it once more its two waterwheels, as well as undoing building work that had been done on the river itself in the 1930s and restoring the weir
Weir
A weir is a small overflow dam used to alter the flow characteristics of a river or stream. In most cases weirs take the form of a barrier across the river that causes water to pool behind the structure , but allows water to flow over the top...
to improve flow rates. In the years up until 1976, the milling machinery was overhauled so that today, on selected days, the mill can now be run again. In the former miller’s dwelling, a tea parlour was set up after the restoration.