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Bügeleisenhaus — Hattingen

The Bügeleisenhaus in Hattingen, Germany: a black and white half-timbered house seen from its narrow south end
Artwork FileHattingen, Germany

Bügeleisenhaus

SeenAug 2026

Built for Wilhelm Elling · 1611 · Haldenplatz 1, 45525 Hattingen

Photo: Tuxyso / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0), as published in World Art Utopia.

Built in 1611 for Wilhelm Elling, probably a merchant, the half-timbered Bügeleisenhaus (‘Flatiron House’) in Hattingen’s old town takes its shape from the meeting of two lanes: 8.00 m wide on the north side, it tapers to 2.57 m at the south end. Some of its beams are carved with masks and volutes. From 1962 to 2021 it housed the local history museum of the Heimatverein; German Wikipedia says the museum has been closed since 5 December 2021. Source Reported

Seen Aug 2026: a Wikimedia Commons photo by Tuxyso dated 20 August 2026 shows the south side of the house. Source Checked

💡 4 things to know

  1. From 8.00 to 2.57 metresThe house sits where two lanes meet and narrows from 8.00 m on its north side to 2.57 m at the south end. Source Reported
  2. Built in 1611 for Wilhelm EllingGerman Wikipedia names Wilhelm Elling, probably a merchant, as the builder in 1611; an extension on the gable side followed in 1620. Source Reported
  3. Masks on the beamsThe beams are partly decorated with carved masks and volutes. Source Reported
  4. Museum from 1962 to 2021The Heimatverein Hattingen/Ruhr ran its museum here from 1962; German Wikipedia says it closed on 5 December 2021. Source Reported

📍 Where it is

Haldenplatz 1, 45525 Hattingen, in the old town, Germany. Source Checked

Open in Maps

Opens a map at the building.

🗓️ Sightings

  1. 1611

    Built for Wilhelm Elling · German Wikipedia

  2. 1962

    Heimatverein museum opens in the house

  3. 20215 Dec

    Museum closes; house no longer open to the public

  4. 202620 Aug

    Photo: south side photographed by Tuxyso

Green stamps mark dated photographs; amber stamps mark records, events and reports; red stamps mark loss. Publication dates are not camera dates.

✅ The facts

Built
1611, for Wilhelm Elling Source Reported
Name
‘Bügeleisenhaus’ (Flatiron House), from its unusual shape Source Checked
Construction
Half-timbered (Fachwerk), beams carved with masks and volutes Source Reported
Former use
Heimatverein local history museum, 1962–2021 Source Reported
Address
Haldenplatz 1, 45525 Hattingen, Germany Source Checked

🔗 Related

All sources & image credits

Last checked: 12 November 2026 · How we verify art