Lehngasse

The name Lehngasse probably comes from the fact that the course of the street forms a backrest (Lehne) between the old Rheinarm and the flood-free island. It might also derive from the fact that fiefdoms from the Kölner Domkustos had lived here in the Middle Ages.

The “Schweppenburg”, at Lehngasse 1, a three-wing complex is a former noble vineyard with a large vaulted cellar. The half-timbered upper floor is built on a quarry stone ground floor. The earliest known owner was Elias von Beckers in the 18th century. He was Councillor of the princely house of Thurn and Taxis and postmaster of Cologne. The oldest part of the building dates from around 1720. His son Felix, general postmaster of the princely house of Thurn and Taxis, had a new house front built in 1775. Since the marriage of Becker’s daughter into the Geyr- Schweppenburg family this building, which stretches to today’s Frankfurter Straße 7, came into their possession. The Baron Cornelius, Freiherr von Geyr-Schweppenburg, used this complex as a share- cropping and a wine press house for his extensive vineyard properties.

Before the ferryman Josef Müller (1887-1963) bought this property there were alternating owners throughout the 19th century. Josef Müller was an historically interested and resourceful collector of local artefacts and other items. After his death the collection was liquidated. His partner, ferryman Wilhelm Vollmer (1907-1976) was his successor. His heirs sold the property to Werner and Mechthild Lohrberg, who carried out extensive restorations which earned awards from the office for the preservation of historical monuments. The subsequent owner Rüdiger Reitz sold the building complex in sections to new owners.

The oldest guesthouse “Charlotte” (No. 55) and the old almshouse (No. 7-9) are also in the Lehngasse.