Weepy old willows
The gatehouse of the noble estate Gut Testorf in the village of Wangels with its willow tree alley, Schleswig-Holstein, Germany
Some background information:
Gut Testorf in the village of Wangels in eastern Schleswig-Holstein was founded in 1460 by the long-established noble family von Buchwaldt. The estate, with its manor house, gatehouse, and outbuildings, is a typical example of the estate architecture of Schleswig-Holstein in the 18th century. Gut Testorf is located in the region of Eastern Holstein, about 50 km (31 miles) to the east of the city of Kiel, about 60 km (37 miles) to the north of the city of Lübeck, and about 10 km (6.2 miles) to the south of the Baltic Sea coast.
Since the Middle Ages, the land of the present-day estate was owned by the abbey of Cismar. In 1460, it came into the possession of the family von Buchwaldt, who built a castle-like, fortified manor house here around 1482. The actual estate farming was established from 1565 onward, at which point the estate passed to the noble family von Blome. Around 1606, a new manor house was built on the other side of the courtyard, which was destroyed during the Thirty Years' War in 1644.
The family von Blome left the estate in 1681, and a period of constantly changing owners began. The estate was subsequently owned, among others, by the House of Hesse-Kassel, als well as the noble families von Reventlow, and von Brockdorff. During the 18th century, a new manor house was built. The large gatehouse also dates from the 18th century. In 1879, the estate passed to the noble family von Abercron, who is descended from the noble family Abercromby from Scotland. In 1900, the family von Abercron also acquired the neighboring estate Gut Ehlerstorf. Gut Testorf has been farmed by the family to this day.
The estate complex is located on a courtyard island that is only partially surrounded by moats today. It is divided into two spatial units by the gatehouse and the farm buildings at the front and the adjoining manor house with outbuildings. The island and its surrounding area were designed as a Baroque garden in the 18th century, and parts of its structure have been preserved to this day, such as the rectangular layout of the estate and some lime tree avenues. From 1870, a large landscape park with sightlines extending to the neighboring Hansühn was created.
The present manor house dates from 1774, with vaulted cellars from the original house of 1482 still remaining. The two-story building has a high mansard roof and was significantly renovated and expanded in 1902, with the tower-like annex on the courtyard side dating from this time. To the left and right of the courtyard side are two free-standing wings built in 1771 and 1772. These were used as the gentlemen's house and coach horse stable.
The gatehouse from 1769 was built on the site of the manor house of the family von Blome from 1606. It is a wide, symmetrical building modeled after the gatehouse at Gut Hasselburg. The central part is pavilion-like, flanked on both sides by two stable wings. The courtyard side of the gatehouse is surrounded by two large farm buildings, with the large barn at the core still dating from around 1600. The northern cowhouse was rebuilt in 1888. The old wheat barn with a deep thatched roof is a tall five-aisled two-post building with low side aisles and annexes. The core frame dates from 1670 and in 1767, the barn was expanded. Today, it still shows its original structure with gates and lofts.
The noble estate – similar to the knightly or the chancery estates – refers to a specific type of estate in the duchies of Schleswig and Holstein. In the once independent Duchy of Lauenburg, the term "noble court" was also used. The noble estates were both agricultural operations and administrative districts. They formed the dominant economic structure of the three duchies of Schleswig, Holstein, and Lauenburg from the Middle Ages until their dissolution during the Weimar Republic. Historically, most noble estates are located in the eastern part of the region.
The noble estates originated in the Middle Ages. In Schleswig and Holstein, a knightly class emerged from the most important local families and knights who had settled the land, some of whom came from Saxony. The Schleswig-Holstein knighthood was granted land by the rulers of the region, particularly in the areas formerly inhabited by the tribe of the Wends in the eastern parts of the region. This arrangement benefited both parties.
The knights, often from the Equites Originarii (the original knights), built lowland castles or motte-and-bailey fortifications, which served both as protection for the knight and his family and as a means of securing the land. These simple but fortified residences were usually the nuclei of the later manor houses. In exchange for securing the land, the knights became landowners to whom the resident peasants paid dues and performed labor services on farmsteads called "curia".
Over the centuries, the legal status of the originally free peasants changed. After several waves of the plague had led to a population decline and, as part of the Reformation, church lands had passed to the nobility, the landowners became increasingly concerned with binding their peasants to the land and preventing them from migrating. As a result, many peasants became serfs. Some peasant villages were abandoned, and from these former farmsteads, the later estate villages emerged.
In the Great Regional Matriculation of 1524, King Frederick I of Denmark granted the clergy and the knights the right to exercise judicial authority over their estates, including the "right over life and limb." They were thus granted "high jurisdiction" without interference from the local rulers; this was in contrast to the rest of the empire, where capital punishment was reserved for the monarch and only in exceptional cases could it be delegated to vassals. The practice of serfdom – though it came with obligations of care – was legally confirmed. The estates of the knights granted this privilege were listed in the matriculation as "noble estates," and their owners had a seat in the regional assembly.
The fortified seats of the Middle Ages developed into estates, some of which have been preserved into the present day. The castle-like manor houses evolved in the 17th and 18th centuries into stately residences, increasingly without fortifications. The manor houses were surrounded by farms with gates, barns, stables, and other agricultural buildings, and often estate villages followed. Mills, dairies, and craft businesses were also part of the estates.
The noble estates were largely autonomous within the state structure of Danish-controlled Schleswig-Holstein. The supreme authority over the estate districts alternated between the Danish crown and the ducal house of Schleswig-Holstein-Gottorf from 1544. Over the 18th century, the significance of the regional assemblies and thus the political influence of the estate owners diminished, but the economic and cultural importance of the estates remained.
In 1804, the Crown Prince Regent Frederick VI issued a decree that abolished serfdom (including compulsory labor and service) on the noble estates in Schleswig and Holstein. The peasants were freed, and over several years, this was implemented. The estate holdings were often converted into leasehold arrangements. In the estate villages, peasant self-administration was ensured until 1867 through a village headman.
With the introduction of the Prussian constitution in 1867, the noble estates lost their judicial authority and were reorganized into estate districts. However, the estate owners remained the "authorities of the lowest administrative level" until the dissolution of the estate districts in 1928, based on their landownership.
After World War I, most of the former time estate villages were separated from the estates, with the peasants becoming free landowners at low rents. After World War II, almost all dairy farms were also separated from the estates. However, many of the once-noble estates continue to exist today, either as agricultural operations or sometimes as tourist attractions. Most of the estates are still in private ownership, with the former estate lands being farmed by the still mostly noble families or often leased. But some of the estates even serve public or cultural purposes.
The estates form a significant feature in the cultural landscape of Schleswig-Holstein. They are often the focal points of former estate villages and, with their farms, access avenues, while the hedgerows that border the fields, are key components of the landscape.
Weepy old willows
The gatehouse of the noble estate Gut Testorf in the village of Wangels with its willow tree alley, Schleswig-Holstein, Germany
Some background information:
Gut Testorf in the village of Wangels in eastern Schleswig-Holstein was founded in 1460 by the long-established noble family von Buchwaldt. The estate, with its manor house, gatehouse, and outbuildings, is a typical example of the estate architecture of Schleswig-Holstein in the 18th century. Gut Testorf is located in the region of Eastern Holstein, about 50 km (31 miles) to the east of the city of Kiel, about 60 km (37 miles) to the north of the city of Lübeck, and about 10 km (6.2 miles) to the south of the Baltic Sea coast.
Since the Middle Ages, the land of the present-day estate was owned by the abbey of Cismar. In 1460, it came into the possession of the family von Buchwaldt, who built a castle-like, fortified manor house here around 1482. The actual estate farming was established from 1565 onward, at which point the estate passed to the noble family von Blome. Around 1606, a new manor house was built on the other side of the courtyard, which was destroyed during the Thirty Years' War in 1644.
The family von Blome left the estate in 1681, and a period of constantly changing owners began. The estate was subsequently owned, among others, by the House of Hesse-Kassel, als well as the noble families von Reventlow, and von Brockdorff. During the 18th century, a new manor house was built. The large gatehouse also dates from the 18th century. In 1879, the estate passed to the noble family von Abercron, who is descended from the noble family Abercromby from Scotland. In 1900, the family von Abercron also acquired the neighboring estate Gut Ehlerstorf. Gut Testorf has been farmed by the family to this day.
The estate complex is located on a courtyard island that is only partially surrounded by moats today. It is divided into two spatial units by the gatehouse and the farm buildings at the front and the adjoining manor house with outbuildings. The island and its surrounding area were designed as a Baroque garden in the 18th century, and parts of its structure have been preserved to this day, such as the rectangular layout of the estate and some lime tree avenues. From 1870, a large landscape park with sightlines extending to the neighboring Hansühn was created.
The present manor house dates from 1774, with vaulted cellars from the original house of 1482 still remaining. The two-story building has a high mansard roof and was significantly renovated and expanded in 1902, with the tower-like annex on the courtyard side dating from this time. To the left and right of the courtyard side are two free-standing wings built in 1771 and 1772. These were used as the gentlemen's house and coach horse stable.
The gatehouse from 1769 was built on the site of the manor house of the family von Blome from 1606. It is a wide, symmetrical building modeled after the gatehouse at Gut Hasselburg. The central part is pavilion-like, flanked on both sides by two stable wings. The courtyard side of the gatehouse is surrounded by two large farm buildings, with the large barn at the core still dating from around 1600. The northern cowhouse was rebuilt in 1888. The old wheat barn with a deep thatched roof is a tall five-aisled two-post building with low side aisles and annexes. The core frame dates from 1670 and in 1767, the barn was expanded. Today, it still shows its original structure with gates and lofts.
The noble estate – similar to the knightly or the chancery estates – refers to a specific type of estate in the duchies of Schleswig and Holstein. In the once independent Duchy of Lauenburg, the term "noble court" was also used. The noble estates were both agricultural operations and administrative districts. They formed the dominant economic structure of the three duchies of Schleswig, Holstein, and Lauenburg from the Middle Ages until their dissolution during the Weimar Republic. Historically, most noble estates are located in the eastern part of the region.
The noble estates originated in the Middle Ages. In Schleswig and Holstein, a knightly class emerged from the most important local families and knights who had settled the land, some of whom came from Saxony. The Schleswig-Holstein knighthood was granted land by the rulers of the region, particularly in the areas formerly inhabited by the tribe of the Wends in the eastern parts of the region. This arrangement benefited both parties.
The knights, often from the Equites Originarii (the original knights), built lowland castles or motte-and-bailey fortifications, which served both as protection for the knight and his family and as a means of securing the land. These simple but fortified residences were usually the nuclei of the later manor houses. In exchange for securing the land, the knights became landowners to whom the resident peasants paid dues and performed labor services on farmsteads called "curia".
Over the centuries, the legal status of the originally free peasants changed. After several waves of the plague had led to a population decline and, as part of the Reformation, church lands had passed to the nobility, the landowners became increasingly concerned with binding their peasants to the land and preventing them from migrating. As a result, many peasants became serfs. Some peasant villages were abandoned, and from these former farmsteads, the later estate villages emerged.
In the Great Regional Matriculation of 1524, King Frederick I of Denmark granted the clergy and the knights the right to exercise judicial authority over their estates, including the "right over life and limb." They were thus granted "high jurisdiction" without interference from the local rulers; this was in contrast to the rest of the empire, where capital punishment was reserved for the monarch and only in exceptional cases could it be delegated to vassals. The practice of serfdom – though it came with obligations of care – was legally confirmed. The estates of the knights granted this privilege were listed in the matriculation as "noble estates," and their owners had a seat in the regional assembly.
The fortified seats of the Middle Ages developed into estates, some of which have been preserved into the present day. The castle-like manor houses evolved in the 17th and 18th centuries into stately residences, increasingly without fortifications. The manor houses were surrounded by farms with gates, barns, stables, and other agricultural buildings, and often estate villages followed. Mills, dairies, and craft businesses were also part of the estates.
The noble estates were largely autonomous within the state structure of Danish-controlled Schleswig-Holstein. The supreme authority over the estate districts alternated between the Danish crown and the ducal house of Schleswig-Holstein-Gottorf from 1544. Over the 18th century, the significance of the regional assemblies and thus the political influence of the estate owners diminished, but the economic and cultural importance of the estates remained.
In 1804, the Crown Prince Regent Frederick VI issued a decree that abolished serfdom (including compulsory labor and service) on the noble estates in Schleswig and Holstein. The peasants were freed, and over several years, this was implemented. The estate holdings were often converted into leasehold arrangements. In the estate villages, peasant self-administration was ensured until 1867 through a village headman.
With the introduction of the Prussian constitution in 1867, the noble estates lost their judicial authority and were reorganized into estate districts. However, the estate owners remained the "authorities of the lowest administrative level" until the dissolution of the estate districts in 1928, based on their landownership.
After World War I, most of the former time estate villages were separated from the estates, with the peasants becoming free landowners at low rents. After World War II, almost all dairy farms were also separated from the estates. However, many of the once-noble estates continue to exist today, either as agricultural operations or sometimes as tourist attractions. Most of the estates are still in private ownership, with the former estate lands being farmed by the still mostly noble families or often leased. But some of the estates even serve public or cultural purposes.
The estates form a significant feature in the cultural landscape of Schleswig-Holstein. They are often the focal points of former estate villages and, with their farms, access avenues, while the hedgerows that border the fields, are key components of the landscape.