Grumsmühlen Manor

Grumsmühlen was a former knightly estate near Langen in Emsland, which has been owned by the von Croy family since 1923.

The name Grumsmühlen (old: Grumsmeulen 1516) derives from an oil mill that stood on the premises. According to Schriever, the determinant word "grummen" could mean "to make noise". In the 16th century, the then manager of the farm, Albert Göding, was still referred to as Grumsmöller. A second mill, the Puttken Mill, was later built on the premises and still exists today. The name possibly derives from Low German "puttken" = to shuffle along.

Grumsmühlen has a very eventful history with many ups and downs. Around 1300, the farm was a tax-exempt half-inheritance, entitled to a mill privilege, owned by the Count of Tecklenburg.

In the first half of the 16th century, the Fraterhaus zum Springhorn in Münster was the owner of the property. Grumsmühlen was sold by the Fratres in 1562 to the Lingen rent master Adolf van Limborch (also Limborg), who expanded the estate into a stately residence with a tower and moats. After van Limborch's murder, Grumsmühlen was sold in 1572 to the Lingen Droste Ernst Mulert. He came from an old Dutch noble family based at the Laar estate near Ommen. Grumsmühlen was not very large at that time. Around 1550, Grumsmühlen had 4 Maltersaat of arable land, 30 Fuder of hay growth, enough (oak) wood to fatten 30 pigs, and a garden of 4 Scheffel of flaxseed for the oil mill. This corresponded to an area of approximately 50 Morgen of cultivated land. Mulert enlarged the inheritance through further purchases, in particular by acquiring parts of the old Thuine estate. By transferring the Thuine noble rights, Grumsmühlen became a knightly estate. The connection between the Mulert house and the Grumsmühlen estate to Thuine dates from this period. Thus, the tomb of the Mulert family can still be seen in the Thuine parish church today. Mulert was also attacked and killed. The tomb of the Mulert family is located in the Thuine parish church.

An eventful history followed. Especially during the turmoil of the Thirty Years' War and thereafter, the estate was completely run down and went bankrupt in 1673, from which Joachim von Böselager from Eggermühlen finally bought the property. The residential building, which probably dates from the Boeselager period, was renovated in 1842. In 1923, Grumsmühlen was bought by the Prince of Croy. Today, the estate consists only of the buildings and some surrounding areas.