Horn - Nordstrasse

Horn (since 1970 part of Horn-Bad Meinberg) was founded by Bernhard III, Edler Herr zur Lippe, after 1230. It was first mentioned in 1248. Horn was located on the old road, that run from Cologne to Hamlin - and today is known as "Bundesstrasse 1" (B1).

Horn got strongly fortified with a surrounding wall and a moat. The castle, was part of this fortification, though it was later used as a kind of retirement home by several widows of the House of Lippe.

Armed conflicts over the city took place in particular during the Soest feud (1444–1449) and during the Thirty Years' War (1618–1648). In 1864, large parts of the city were destroyed in a fire, about 60 houses burnt down including the town hall.
The Nordstrasse is lined by half timbered "Ackerbürgerhäuser". An "Ackerbürger" ("arable citizen") was a citizen, who operated agriculture as their main occupation and received the major part of their income from it. Since medieval times these citizens represented a special group within the urban social structure, being farmers with citizen status. They lived inside the "walls", but had their lands outside. So the "Ackerbürgerhäuser" were farmhouses inside the town.

The inscription on the beam tells us, that Hermann Lotze and his spouse Margaretha Möllen built this house in 1613.

Meanwhile its not in a good condition any longer. It needs TLC - and is for sale!