Haus Bisping is not a "medieval castle" but a moated estate. The aristocratic families of the time were often administrators of the estates of the territorial lords (bishops, counts, etc.). This was also the case with Haus Bisping and the adjacent manor house Haus Borg. In the Middle Ages, this manor was converted into a moated castle with a closed, brick-built defensive ring around the moat, consisting of walls, buildings, and gatehouses with drawbridges over the moat. The "Borg" part of the name, meaning "castle," reveals this complex to be a moated castle, such as Hülshoff Castle. However, due to alterations, primarily in the 18th and 19th centuries, its origin, character, and supposed current designation have become blurred. The name "House XY" and its enclosure by a large moat without a closed ring of walls, buildings, and gatehouses with bridges over the moats (ditches) are evidence that this is neither a palace nor a (moated) castle, but rather a moated farmstead. A plausible example of this correct classification is Hülshoff Castle, popularly known as "Schloss" Hülshoff but correctly named. In the 11th century, it was still the upper farm "Hoff von Hulshove" (Hof zum Hülshoff) and a moated farmstead. Then, due to the need for protection against the excesses of medieval feuds, the growing status of the respective administering noble families, and the duties assigned to them by the sovereign, it was converted into a moated castle. The significant alterations to the current enclosed Renaissance complex, with the character of a castle, took place in the 17th and 18th centuries. The moated farm Haus Rüschhaus is economically and administratively affiliated with Hülshoff Castle. Haus Rüschhaus is comparable to Haus Bisping in every respect and, unlike Haus Bisping, is correctly referred to as a moated farm on Wikipedia. A comparison with the moated farm Schulte Steinhorst (Im Heubrock 13, 59387 Ascheberg), located about 4 km away at a junction of Rinkeroder Straße, shows why Haus Bisping is a moated farm. Just because, like Haus Rüschhaus and unlike the moated farm Schulte Steinhorst, noble (now wealthy) estate managers once lived here and could afford somewhat more "magnificent" buildings, does not make a moated farm a palace. A comparison with the real Nordkirchen moated castle or the castle in Münster with the moats of the city's former defenses is very helpful!
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