The first documented mention dates back to the 13th century. In 1357 the first Ehling was named. Since then, the estate at Poststrasse 7 in Recklinghausen-Suderwich has been home to 13 generations of the Ehling family. In later centuries, the farmstead developed into the Gräftenhof, a special type of single-farm settlement whose main characteristic is a moat, the so-called Gräfte, which completely or partially surrounds the farmstead. The Münsterland in particular is still characterized today by settlement geography of Gräftenhöfen. It is assumed that these arose from the need for protection and security for the mostly isolated living quarters as well as from the desire for recognition and social prestige.
Back to the Gräftenhof in Recklinghausen: the 18th-century manor house was built in the typical half-timbered style and expanded in the same style in 1836 by the great-great-grandfather of the current resident, Prof. Irmgard Isselstein. In 1905, the great-grandmother had the half-timbered building plastered using classicist elements such as the front door framed by pilasters with Corinthian capitals and triangular gables, as well as Art Nouveau-style decorations on the façade.
Excellent facade renovation
The listed Gräftenhof was designed and planned by Dipl.-Ing. Architect Thomas Serwe from Recklinghausen renovated. Painter Herbert Behrendt from Oer-Erkenschwick was awarded the contract to carry out the renovation work. With the many historical details, attention to detail was required. Whether eaves, cornices, window coverings or the historical year: everything was reconstructed true to the original based on historical templates. Another challenge, especially on the eastern gable end, was the plaster that was applied very densely around the turn of the century. It had severely impeded the moisture exchange of the load-bearing oak beams, so that some trusses had to be replaced. In order to preserve the beautiful historic facade in its entirety, a load-bearing timber framework was placed in front of the gable walls from the inside. Silikat-Facade Paint 1804, a weather-resistant, highly diffusible silicate-based facade paint, was used as the top coat, which is particularly suitable for painting historic or listed buildings. The color scheme is also based on the historical original and gives the manor back its original light, friendly sand color. With this refurbishment, everyone involved in the project succeeded in restoring the overall historical impression and preserving it for the future.
home for seniors
With the death of Ottilie Ehling in 2006, the Ehling family died out in the 13th generation on the Gräftenhof. Like her ancestors, Ottilie Ehling had a very social attitude and was closely connected to her home community. It was her wish that the Gräftenhof of the community should remain as a historical site for festivals and celebrations even after her death and that old people could spend a nice old age on the courtyard grounds. Prof. Irmgard Isselstein, niece, heiress and resident of the manor house, took this obligation to heart and founded the non-profit Ottilie Ehling Foundation in 2011, named after her aunt.
Four new buildings with a total of 29 bright, friendly, barrier-free apartments were built directly on the edge of the courtyard. A doctor, a physiotherapist and a mobile medical service are based here. It is planned to expand the listed former stables belonging to the Gräftenhof at a later date and to turn them into a meeting place for the elderly living in the Gräftenhof and for the community.
Important Westphalian farm complex: The farm of the Ehling family, which is subject to taxes to the Essen women's monastery, is one of the oldest complexes in Suderwich (first documented mention in the 13th century). Family members shaped Suderwich's local history as church masters at St. Johannes (15th - 18th century) or community leaders (19th/20th century). The manor house was doubled in size in 1836 as a half-timbered house and demarcated from the moat with a natural stone block base. In 1904, Franziska Ehling (1848 - 1926) had it plastered with Art Nouveau-classical elements. The farm complex with moat, bridge and farm cross (1904) also includes the richly structured farm building (pigs, cowshed, feed kitchen) and the connecting wing (laundry room, baking room), built in 1904 in brick construction. The Ottilie Ehling Foundation is now the sponsor of the farm and modern senior citizens' housing complex.