Morp Manor

Rittergut Morp (Morp Manor)

An archaeological monument in Erkrath is the site where a motte is believed to have stood; a typical time would have been around 900 AD. This fits with the history of the Mauspfad, which ran exactly through this spot. The building's past can be traced back to the 12th century. The house is first mentioned in a document in 1144. There, it is named Morafa, which means something like "moor water" or "flowing water." The suffix -afa stands for bodies of water; formerly, Haus Morp was a moated castle on the Düssel.

In the interim, Haus Morp was owned by the Vilich Abbey (1144), Gertrud von Gerresheim (1282), the knight Herrmann von Winkelhausen (1410), and the Counts of Hatzfeld zu Weisweiler (1703, alongside Kalkum Castle).

Haus Morp

Haus Morp is a listed manor house located in Erkrath, with an adjoining park (to Villa Grillo) and a farmstead (former convent, manor, and farm, now commercially used). From 1956 to 1993, the Waden family operated livestock and agriculture here. In 1991, Dieter Kotulla acquired the property from the Grillo heirs. The enclosed courtyard of the complex serves as a studio after extensive renovations. Adjacent are some parking spaces.

Villa Grillo

In 1880, the industrialist Wilhelm Grillo, who died in 1889, bought large parts of Morp; this also included the Dammer Mühle. His son Friedrich Grillo laid out the park around 1897, then built Villa Grillo, also known as Forsthaus Morp. According to the plans for the park, the villa was supposed to stand in a different location, which implies that the park plans are older than those for the villa.

Rheinbahn has used Villa Grillo since 1942. In September of that year, a recreation home for children of Rheinbahn employees was established there. During the bombing raid of August 22, 1943, the Rheinbahn children's home Villa Grillo was hit, among other things.

Since September 15, 1946, the villa served as a recreation home for Rheinbahn employees. On the 25th, the first ten people seeking recreation arrived, and on the 28th, the inauguration ceremony took place.

Villa Hecker

In 1930, the Franciscan Sisters of the Holy Family, Helgoland Monastery, moved into Villa Hecker, today called Villa Morp. In the 1970s, the villa served as a youth center for the city of Erkrath. During World War II, it served as a hospital for the wounded.

In 1957, the nuns left the building, and it was sold to Gerresheimer Glashütte, which is said to have set up a bachelors' dormitory there. To the south, located on the Düssel, was the Morper Mühle, which burned down in 1905 and was not rebuilt.

Villa Sack

West of Villa Hecker is Villa Sack, which also bore the title Haus Morp. Between these two properties is the Japanese Consulate General; in this area, the Morper Hof once stood.