Lectures & Discussions
"Set alight in a haystack and in an instant" - city fires in Schwerin
Wednesday, 21/05/2025 / 07:00 PM - 08:30 PM / Kulturforum Schleswig-Holstein-Haus
At Forum.STADT.Geschichte, Norbert Credé will report on the major city fires in Schwerin, focusing on the devastating fire of 1651.
In the title of his lecture, the speaker quotes from the cathedral preacher Heinrich Bilderbeck's memorial sermon on the fire of 1651. With the words "ignited in a hay and a moment", Bilderbeck tried to describe the speed at which the fire spread across the old town in 1651.
It was the most devastating city fire in Schwerin's history, destroying a good two thirds of the old town. But it was not the only fire, in 1531 "Schwerin was almost burnt to the ground", in 1558 and 1626 further fires destroyed parts of Schwerin's old town. And even later, parts of the city burned more often, such as in 1690 in the old town and in 1697 on the Schelfe.
Fires were part of people's everyday lives in the Middle Ages and early modern times. Fire was needed everywhere, it provided light and warmth, but dealing with it also harbored many dangers. The cramped urban development and, above all, the half-timbered construction of the houses with thatched, reed or wooden shingle roofs provided plenty of food for a fire. A fallen candle or a few sparks from a stove could cause devastating fires. It is therefore not surprising that fires broke out time and again, which, with a great deal of luck and effort in extinguishing them, could have a mild outcome, but often destroyed entire neighborhoods or towns.
The causes of these fires and how citizens and authorities dealt with them are illustrated using the example of the Schwerin town fires.
All statements without guarantee.
