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The FAMILY FEDERATION of the BARONS AND BARON Vth GROTTHUSS Vth GROTHUSEN

aerial photograph of 1996

Das manor Grotenhus formerly a Lehen of the prince bishops of cathedral and domicile of the knight family v. Grotthuss, in oldest documents de magna domo, to the house designated itself. Lain in circles the Luedinghausen, Kirchspiel north churches, farmer shank old person village. This farmer shank old person village is a part of the old "Ithari", a large forest area, which belonged to the monastery. Here one upper yard and 33 Unterhoefe, these were had in the year 1275 the Mr. von Morrien to Lehen for annually 30 golden sign interest. Upper yards or office yards had been without doubt larger goods, whose possession in most cases the basis their owners was. This upper yard "yard ton of Nortkerken" lay in the range of the today's lock yard and its closer environment. Somewhat southeast toward south churches the old water castle north churches continued to stand, delighted from Johann v. Morrien approximately around the year 1400. Again somewhat southeast the old church and the old village north churches continued to stand. And here in direct proximity (approx. 500m east) the house Grotenhus stood. This house (or also castle) is called into the recent past Borggreve (castle count or castle ditch). The family v.Grotthuss, also lat. de magna domo, to the house designated itself, 1269 is documentary already called in such a way. The families v. Morrien and v. Grotthuss came probably at the same time into this area.

We both families know, are related with one another cutout from the Urkataster as (bridge in the sign) and come of the house sending, which 1185 are already called documentary. In which connection the possession north churches (Morrien) and Grotenhus (Grotthuss) stood, we do not know at present yet. The name Grothenhus refers to a large house. Further down is a cutout from the Urkataster of 1872. The remainders of the original Graefte have still an extent of approx.. 175 meters in the east west and approx.. 125 meters in the north south adjustment. The broadest place of the ditch in this design measures about 8 meters. Also the aerial photograph admission from the year 1996, the bright outline around the yard (see title page) and the vegetation in the admission of 1939 to confirm the extents of the Graefte, whereby those was width of the ditch of probably 10-15 meters and was reduced in the course of the time by vegetation. This is a rendition of conditions in the middle 19. Century. As this messuage has in 13. Century and in later times looked? A "Grote Hus" rightfully!

Aerial photograph of 1939

A. D cutout circle map Luedinghausen

Theodericus "de magna domo" in the year 1269 as the first is called, it documentary carried this names after the possession. Its brother or son Conradus arises in the years 1276-1296 in different documents of this area. Its son Stephanus, called 1280-1290, follows as well as its sons Theodoricus and Stephanus. 1370 are belehnt documentary Stephanus by the bishop with Grotenhus, likewise in the year 1378 of bishop Potho. Heinrich follow (son of the Theodoricus) as well as its son Conrad. Grotenhus was in the possession of the family up to the year 1403. Now followed the family v. Piekenbrok, who received the property from the bishop to Lehen and up to the year 1500 lived there. The hereditary daughter mika v. Pikenbrok brought the property by the marriage with H. v. Ascheberg to the house Biing. From this the Mr. v. Morrien acquired the possession Grotenhus. In 18. Century acquires prince bishop F. v. Plettenberg, after becoming extinct the Nordkirchener line v. Morrien, their goods and concomitantly Grotenhus. In 19. Century came it into the possession of the counts Esterhazy. In the time the property had an area of 244 mornings in the municipality north churches and 212 mornings in south churches. Today the property is in the possession of the agriculture Spoeth. Of the old time one is reminded, if over the Grothueser way is past to the former Graefte to a linking the Grothueser valley to be seen and the Grotenhauser appears eastern to far in 1-2 km distance field.

HARRY OF GROTTHUSS

Source: Harry von Grothuss