Nenndorf: History of the Peat-Fired Brickworks

If you are looking for a hotel in Nenndorf and are interested in the history of construction and technology, the peat-fired brickworks offers a distinctive local connection. Its construction period, the clay extracted on site, and its transport to the pug mill provide a tangible topic related to brickmaking. Mills and cycle paths in the Holtriem region offer further regional topics; Wittmund provides its own perspective on culture and history.

Peat-fired brickworks: clay, transport, and ring kiln

The Nenndorf peat-fired brickworks was built in 1896 on Ziegeleistraße. Lauenburg clay, used to make the bricks, is extracted on the site; a narrow-gauge railway transports it to the pug mill. This identifies both the raw material’s origin and a specific stage in its transport. For those interested in culture, the building’s history is thus linked to the material and its processing.

The brickworks’ official description notes that the production process has been preserved using traditional methods. The Hoffmann ring kiln was installed in 1903 and is considered Germany’s oldest peat-fired ring kiln. Seven years separate the construction of the brickworks from the installation of the kiln: 1896 and 1903 mark two distinct stages in its history. This timeline distinguishes the construction of the building from the later installation of the ring kiln.

Mills and cycle paths

The Dutch-style windmill is the landmark of the Holtriem collective municipality. It was built in 1850 as a single-storey gallery Dutch mill. This is a different type of building from the peat-fired brickworks in Nenndorf, whose technical history also includes the Hoffmann ring kiln. The mill can be visited at any time; visiting arrangements may change.

The Holtriem region is considered particularly easy to explore by bicycle. Well-maintained cycle paths pass medieval churches and restored mills. The approximately 48-kilometre Holtriem circular walking route runs through Holtriem. These details provide different kinds of orientation: the cycle paths describe the regional setting, while the approximate distance specifies the circular route.

Culture in Wittmund

In Wittmund, the Peldemühle offers another insight into the history of technology and crafts. It was built in 1741 for hulling barley and constructed together with a residential building and a barn. At the Peldemühle’s historic bakehouse, the processing of grain from flour to bread is demonstrated. This complements the story of the peat-fired brickworks: here the focus is on grain processing, while in Nenndorf it is on clay and bricks.

Wittmund’s pedestrian zone features the “Hands of Fame” promenade, a visitor attraction. It includes the unique “Bundespräsidentenplatz” (Federal President’s Square), inaugurated in 2010. The Robert von Zeppelin Aviation and Flight Museum also opened in Wittmund’s pedestrian zone in June 2015. It conveys Wittmund’s regional history as connected with aviation and introduces the historic “Wittmundhafen” airfield, especially to young people. Exhibits include aviation memorabilia, works by local artists, and other display items.

Discover more destinations: Harlesiel, Blomberg, Wittmund, Westerholt, Dunum, Utarp, Carolinensiel, Eversmeer

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