Teutoburgia Colliery Headframe

“The baskets at the Teutoburgia colliery in Herne have been standing still since 1925. But artists kissed the ruin from their long slumber with the idea "KunstWald". In recent years, a park has been created around the winding tower and machine hall that stimulates the senses.
The KunstWald is located on the southern edge of the Bladenhorst landscape park. The initiator of this project was the sound sculptor Christof Schläger. He came up with the idea of devoting a piece of forest to art on the mine site. As early as 1987, the artist founded the Friends' Association Teutoburgia e.V., which is committed to the preservation of historic mining facilities and implements art projects on the site. Schläger's idea from the KunstWald met with open ears at the Ruhrgebiet municipal association, which acquired the mine site in 1992. A short time later, the association started the creative design of the park, in which a total of ten artists took part.
An obelisk, eight cuboids and yew trees alternate in the center around the control shaft of the former colliery. Laid out fragrance gardens entice you to take a tour with aromas of rose, mint and lavender. "Quotation stones" that visitors come across time and again on the site stimulate the imagination. Installations and art objects give the colliery new tones. It's hard to believe that soot and smoke were once in the air for 14 years. In order to revive the mine, the mining relics had to be restored. In 1991 the time had come: As monuments to industrial history, the conveyor tower and machine hall shone in new splendor. Now the restored machine shop is regularly the scene of art and music projects. "
Source: nrw-stiftung.de/projekte/projekt.php?pid=134

"The largest part of the former day facilities has probably broken off, but a German headframe from 1907/08 and a machine house still mark the location of the former Teutoburgia colliery. They are embedded in an" artificial forest ", which, in addition to modern sculptures, also outlines the demolished colliery buildings Modern art is also the theme in the machine hall, where the Teutoburgia Association organizes exhibitions and workshops.

The Teutoburgia colliery had neither a long nor a successful operating period. The fields had already been allocated shortly after the middle of the 19th century, but it was not until 1909 that the digging work for shafts 1 and 2 began and mining continued after two more years. However, the hopes placed in the colliery were not fulfilled. The mine field was too small and disturbed storage conditions prevented profitable mining of the coal. After fourteen years of operation, the mine was closed in 1925 and the mine was taken over by the neighboring Erin mine in Castrop-Rauxel. In this short period of time, two firedamp explosions occurred in 1911 and 1912, each costing six miners their lives. "Source: route-industriekultur.ruhr/themenrouten/22-mythos-ruhrgebiet/kunstwald-zeche-teutoburgia .html

Today there is an artificial forest on the old colliery area, which invites you to take a walk. The internationally known sound artist Christof Schläger lives and works in the restored machine hall opposite the winding tower. His work can be experienced in an impressive way on a virtual tour: my.matterport.com/show/?m=WgrrpwNqu7R.