At the Tilbeck Murder Cross we come across an important medieval monument. A unique cultural monument, one of the best-preserved border fortifications in the Münsterland, runs more than 5 km from here in a north-westerly direction on the Baumbergkamm.
These ramparts were built to reinforce the district boundaries; they were referred to as "lantwere" or "munitio". If the protection of the parish boundaries was not sufficiently secured, the natural boundaries in the Münsterland have been supplemented by "living" protective walls and ditches since the Middle Ages.
The two-wall system with a main wall, a ditch and a small accompanying wall is sometimes reinforced by further walls, as here on the ascent. With a ditch width of around 20 m, the entire rampart width is over 50 m, with the crest of the rampart being about 2 m above the bottom of the ditch. Trees or shrubs were planted on the ramparts, mainly of hard or prickly growth and good ability to sprout, e.g. ash, hornbeam, hazelnut and hawthorn, sloe, blackberry. The wood was only broken every few years and not separated from the rootstock, so that it grew green again and again. The branches were repeatedly pulled down, bent and intertwined. Over time, a living protective hedge formed as a defensive structure, which as a border could not be overlooked and represented an impenetrable obstacle for people and cattle.
Landwehr offered people protection from the usual raids and "feuds". Although they did not prevent the penetration of gangs of robbers and enemies, they did give time to organize the defense and, above all, to take away the stolen cattle from the enemy when he retreated. Bäumer" or "Baumschlüter" operated the barriers at the passages and were commissioned to collect tolls and tolls.
Since the 13th century, the militias have been an important part of local and national defense. At the beginning of the 14th century, a network of parish militias secured the surrounding area and the city of Münster. By decree of Prince-Bishop Ludwig, they were joined together in 1321. After the Thirty Years' War there were definitely efforts to renew the dilapidated landwehr and barriers. By the end of the 18th century, road tolls and barriers had finally disappeared. Agriculture and forestry took over the ramparts, which have since been thinned out.