Adl Gut Schirnau, Bünsdorf parish, Eckernförde, Schleswig:
Gut Schirnau, circa 1930 - photo courtesy Kurt Bevensee
The home of the miller at Gut Schirnau. This house was built in 1760, eight years after the death of Matthias Bevensee. Evidence indicates that his family continued to live at Gut Schirnau and members were mentioned living here in 1753, 1754, 1759, 1768 and 1783. Bevensee would have held the mill under the terms of an Erbpacht contact. These contracts were leases which included the mill building, a home, outbuildings and often land. They were hereditary and Bevensee's heirs would have inherited the lease upon his death.
The watermill at Gut Schirnau, constructed of squared timbers, intervening brickwork and a thatched roof, was built in 1782. Diedrich Bevensee (+1800) no doubt operated this mill.
The Sandsteintafel above the doorway to the mill, visible in the above photograph, which announces it's year of construction and the name of the nobleman who owned Gut Schirnau: Detlev, Baron of Liliencron.
The mill and mill pond at Schirnau
Postcard of Schirnau, circa 1940
1941 postcard of Schirnau
The watermill and the millers house as they appeared in 1967. The sign reads: Schirnau-Mühle, Holsten Bier. The waterwheel was housed under the addition at the end of the building.
Gut Schirnau as it appeared in 2004. The Müllers house and the Wassermühle were destroyed by fire in 1983. Photo courtesy Kurt Bevensee.