Commercial buildings

According to the deed of donation, even before the founding of Rumbeck Abbey, there was a main farm belonging to Count Heinrich I of Arnsberg at this location. The good location on a side valley of the Ruhr and the already cultivated, fertile, not too steep meadows and fields were certainly decisive factors for the Wedinghausen abbot in establishing a women's monastery.

Many of the farm buildings are therefore probably much older in origin than the monastery, which was founded in 1190.

The aim of the monastery's management was to live as self-sufficiently as possible. Agriculture, livestock and fish farming had to be intensified, for which the existing farm provided a good basis. Bread was the main food and had to be available at all times. Growing grain in sufficient quantities required further cultivation of the landscape. The power of the water coming from the Rumbeck Forest and collected in several ponds was used early on to operate a grain mill.

COMMERCIAL BUILDINGS

Monasteries have always been commercial enterprises and drivers of regional development. Benefiting from the trade route in the Ruhr valley, a wide range of businesses developed at Rumbeck Abbey. Since the 16th century at the latest, the monastery has used the stream leading to the Ruhr to operate an oil, saw and grain mill. To increase the water supply, the abbey built a slope water collection system in the middle of the Mühbach valley. This system, in which water was channeled to the uppermost pond via channels and collecting ditches, made it possible to extract, store and regulate water independently of the Mühlbach. The system was only discovered in 1992 and can only be found in its form in the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Maulbronn.

The monastery forest, which covered around 65 hectares, provided timber and raw materials for the production of potash and charcoal. This coal fuelled the Rumbeck iron hammer from 1749 onwards. The monastery also had a glassworks, as well as factories for the production of thread and a yarn and linen bleaching works. At its peak, the monastery employed up to 60 people in its commercial operations.

GRAIN MILL

The former grain mill with a reconstruction of a water wheel at a historically secure location was an important element for the supply of around 100 people. The building is now used as storage for the horse farm. The water wheel probably also served to operate the sawmill located 4 metres to the south.

BAKERY AND BREWERY

The building that is now used as a storage room was once the bakery and brewery. Unfortunately, the smell of fresh bread, mash and hops no longer exists here. The old Ruhr pebble pavement that has been preserved must have seen many a good drop.

SAWMILL

The location of the former sawmill can be verified from sources. It reached as far as the road (today the street) so that it could be supplied with wood directly. There are efforts to restore the former

To uncover foundations and, if necessary, to rebuild a historic building.

COWSHED

The size of the former cowshed shows that livestock farming also made an important contribution to the monastery's upkeep. When the monastery was dissolved in 1804, the following were present:

18 horses, 38 cows, 1 ox, 39 cattle and 19 calves.

At the head end of the cowshed was already the dwelling of the Swiss . This man was responsible for the cows.

Today the former cowshed is used as a horse stable. The Swiss man's house is now the tenant's home.

PIG STABLE

It is located 50 meters away on the northern edge of the farm buildings and extends almost to the street. In 1804 there were 24 pigs and 19 piglets. Today the area is also part of the horse farm.

SHEEPFOLD

At the time the monastery was dissolved, 121 sheep were housed in the large sheep barn.

Today, the building, with its partially preserved Ruhr pebble paving, houses a café and an art print shop, among other things. When you enter the sheep pen (you have to go through it to get to the convent café), you can see a door three meters high in the left corner, from which the shepherd (it was his bedroom) could see his sheep. This way he could enjoy the closeness and also the warmth of the sheep.