Hildesheim - Knochenhaueramtshaus

Louis the Pious founded the bishopric of Hildesheim in 815. The settlement developed into a town and was granted market rights by King Otto III in 983. Craftsmen and merchants were attracted and the city developed into an important community. By 1167, Hildesheim was an almost completely walled market settlement.

At the beginning of the 13th century, Hildesheim had about 5,000 inhabitants, and when Hildesheim received its city charter in 1249, it was one of the largest cities in northern Germany. The clergy ruled Hildesheim for four centuries before a town hall was built and the citizens gained influence and independence. In 1367, Hildesheim became a member of the Hanseatic League. But what is now called Hildesheim was various small "suburbs". After centuries of (sometimes armed) disputes, it was not until the end of the 16th century that a union was created and subsequently at least the inner wall was taken down Old and New Town.
During the Thirty Years' War, Hildesheim was besieged and occupied several times. In 1813, after the Napoleonic Wars, the town became part of the Kingdom of Hanover, which was annexed by the Kingdom of Prussia as a province after the Austro-Prussian War in 1866.

The air raids on Hildesheim in 1944/45 destroyed large parts of the city. Of the 1500 half-timbered houses, only 200 remained. 90 percent of the historic old town was destroyed in the firestorm.

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The Knochenhaueramtshaus (Butcher's Guild Hall) is one of the largest structures in the Historic Market of Hildesheim. With its 7 floors and a height of 26 meters, it is considered to be one of the tallest half-timbered houses in Germany.

It was originally built in 1529 in a Gothic style, and was used as a meeting place of the butchers' guild, which was a very wealthy and influential guild in Hildesheim in the Middle Ages. In 1884, the 4th, 5th, 6th, and 7th floors were destroyed by a fire, but rebuilt. immediately.

During WWII the City Council contemplated the dismantlement of the house, but this proved to be impossible.

On 22 March 1945, the half-timbered houses of the market place including the Knochenhaueramtshaus were destroyed by incendiary bombs. In the 1950s the houses were replaced by concrete buildings with flat roofs.

At the beginning of the 1980s, the City Council decided to tear down the buildings and reconstruct the historic Market Place. Many inhabitants donated money to the project. The foundation stone was laid on 27 October 1987and the reconstruction was completed in December 1989.