Zeche Carl is a cultural centre set up by Essen Council in a former coal mine.

History

The mine was founded by the Hercules Company in Altenessen in 1855. It should not be confused with the Hercules mine in central Essen. They sank a shaft equipped with a large-sized Malakow engine with two wings. The mine went operational in 1861. That same year Hercules was acquired in the same year by the Cologne Mining Association under Friedrich Grillo

Friedrich Grillo

Friedrich Grillo was a prominent Essen industrialistBorn the son of an Essen merchant and he took over his father's enterprise, and expande3d the range of trade, becoming an influential businessman* In 1854 he gained a seat on the supervisory board of the Bochum Association* In 1855 he became...

, and was renamed the Zeche Carl.

The mine was soon to develop as it produced high quality Anthracite suitable for producing coke

Coke (fuel)

Coke is the solid carbonaceous material derived from destructive distillation of low-ash, low-sulfur bituminous coal. Cokes from coal are grey, hard, and porous. While coke can be formed naturally, the commonly used form is man-made.- History :...

. From 1883, it simply produced Carl Coke. An additional ventilation shaft was drilled from 1885 to 1887.

In 1899 was placed the Malakow engine was upgraded double promotion. The production was increased to 300,000 tonnes a year.

After the First World War, the Cologne Mining Association was taken over by Hoesch AG

Hoesch AG

The Hoesch AG was an important steel and mining company with locations in the Ruhr area and Siegen.Hoesch was taken over by Krupp in 1991.-Nazi involvement:...

. Coal production was discontinued in 1929. The main shaft was dismantled and the ventilation shaft used for Zeche Emil Emscher. The ventilation shaft was in turn abandoned in 1955, and in 1970 all other colliery work at the site was brought to a close.

It is one of the sites included in the Ruhr Industrial Heritage Trail

The Industrial Heritage Trail

The Industrial Heritage Trail links tourist attractions related to the industrial heritage in the Ruhr area in Germany. It is a part of the European Route of Industrial Heritage.-The route:...

Contemporary Use

In 1977, at the initiative of various citizens, youth and the local protestant church Initiative Center Zeche Carl eV was established to run the former colliery as a Cultural Centre. The entire group of buildings are now being conserved.

The reconstructed building has developed as a pan-regional cultural centre offering a diverse programme of concerts, parties, classes, readings, exhibitions workshops etc. It also provides space for other community groups, including Offene Kanal Essen, a public television

Television

Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...

 station.

As a Rock venue, Zeche Carl has hosted such bands as Sodom

Sodom (band)

Sodom is a German Thrash metal trio from Gelsenkirchen, formed in 1981.Along with the bands Kreator and Destruction, Sodom is considered one of the "big three" of Teutonic thrash metal...

 who recorded (Marooned Live

Marooned Live

Marooned - Live is a live album by Sodom released in 1994. It was recorded in Zeche Carl.-Track listing:# "Intro" – 0:35# "Outbreak of Evil" – 2:51# "Jabba the Hut" – 2:34# "Agent Orange" – 5:31# "Jesus Screamer" – 1:48# "Ausgebombt" – 2:51...

) there.

Following financial problems with the original association, Carl Gmbh was set up as nonprofit organisation, and is headed by Kornelia Vossebein.

External links

• Zeche Carl - official site