In the former "Loher Hütten- und Hammerwerke", first mentioned in 1439, one of the first coke-fired blast furnaces in the Siegerland region was put into operation in the first half of the 19th century. All that remains of the smelter, Hamm and storage buildings today is the old magazine building where coal used to be stored. It is located close to the Kindelsberg trail, which leads past the former hut pond. The smelter's house from 1718 has also been preserved.
Lohe warehouse and foreman's house: The former "Loher Hütten- und Hammerwerk" was also known outside the Siegerland region as a steelworks. At the beginning of the 19th century, one of the first coke-fired blast furnaces in the Siegerland region was put into operation here. All that remains of the smelter, hammers and storage buildings today is an old coal shed and the former smelter foreman's house from 1718. The foreman's house was part of the workers' settlement of the former silver smelter, which belonged to the Müsen mining district. Unfortunately, it has been unused for many years and has therefore fallen into disrepair.
Foreman's house: Altlohe 2-6; warehouse: corner of Brücher Weg / Spechtweg. Both buildings can only be viewed from the outside.
Hof Lohe: While Kredenbach is first mentioned in a document in 1340, there is already talk of Burgrave Heinrich von Lohe, the representative of a patrician family from Soest, at the beginning of the 14th century. A moated castle probably already existed or was built in Lohe at this time. The Lohe farm is mentioned in 1343 and the Lohe smelter in 1439. In addition to the house, farm and hut, the Nassau fief of Lohe included other extensive properties, such as other farms, a mill, several ponds, meadows, fields, forests and fields. (Stephan Hahn).
Today, Hof Lohe has almost completely disappeared from the Kredenbach townscape.
Photos: Dr. Andreas Bingener
The last illustration shows the Royal Ironworks Lohe in the 19th century in a lithograph by Jakob Scheiner.