Goldschmieding Castle (Castrop-Rauxel)

The first documented mention of the estate as the knight's seat Gholtsmedinc occurred in 1275. At that time, it served as a border fortress for the Archbishopric of Recklinghausen against the Counts of Mark and was a fortified house situated on an island surrounded by a moat. Towards the end of the 14th century, ownership passed to the von Alstede family, followed by the von Asbecks, and later Wilhelm vom Overlacker. Through the marriage of Anna Margaretha von Overlacker to Johann von Schell in 1583, the estate came into the possession of the von Schell family. The couple had the old building demolished and a new one erected between 1583 and 1597 in the Lippe Renaissance style. This building, originally twice its current size and flanked by two round towers, had its northwest side and corner tower demolished in the 17th century.