It is unclear where the name “Temple House” comes from. The conclusion that Hildesheim's first synagogue was said to have stood at this location is popular, but hardly accurate. It was stated that the entrance to Judenstrasse is between the temple house and the Wedekindhaus. According to a more recent opinion, the name goes back to a 16th century painting on the gable front of the building, which was previously known as Harlessem House, which showed two tournament knights riding towards each other, which the population associated with the Knights Templar. The interpretation of the archaeological finding is also controversial: While some consider the remains of a mikveh under the temple house to be proven, others consider such a bath in the basement of the building to be “technically impossible”.
The temple house belongs to the Gerstenberg family, who are also publishers of the Hildesheimer Allgemeine Zeitung. On the ground floor is the tourist information and the passage to the city library. A webcam with a view over the market square is installed on the top floor.
The discovery that there had already been buildings in front of the temple house was considered nothing short of sensational. The foundation of a tower or bower (stone house) from the 12th century was also cut. It is located outside of today's temple house.
Source: Wikipedia