Municipal archive

Denkmal

The Neuss municipal archive was first mentioned in a document in 1242 (“archivum publicum Nusie”) and is therefore one of the oldest in Germany. Until the 17th century, the archive was part of the city registry on Krämerstraße, after which it was located in the town hall by the market, built in 1638 and destroyed in 1944. After the relocation of the archive holdings and their provisional rehousing due to the war, the archive has been located in two listed buildings on Oberstraße since 1967. Administration, a reading room as well as an events and exhibition room are located in the former Thurn und Taxis post office, with the repository in the adjoining former candle warehouse.

The neo-classical Stadtpalais, designed by architect Peter Leydel, was built in 1778 by the mayor and postman Peter Joseph Nepes on the open area on which the citadel had stood from 1679 to 1686. The building was used by the Thurn und Taxis Post until 1834 and was also the representative residence of the wealthy Nepes family. The post horses were changed and passengers and mail were collected in the stables to the rear.

In 1851, the Sels brothers built their stearin candle and light factory behind the former post office. The Overbeck candle factory was located here from 1906 to 1965. After the city of Neuss acquired the land and buildings, the municipal archive moved into the administration building. The listed candle warehouse in the courtyard, which was built in 1909 and is a typical reinforced concrete building of industrial architecture, has become a repository for the valuable historical documents of the city from nine centuries.

Chronology

• 1242 First mention of the “archivum publicum Nusie”
• 13th/16th century Municipal archive in the city registry, Krämerstraße
• 1586 Fire in the city destroys parts of the archive
• 1638 Municipal archive in new town hall by the market
• 1778 Construction of the Thurn und Taxis post office
• 1796 Burglary of the municipal archive (band of robbers linked to Mathias Weber, aka “Fetzer”)
• 1851 Former post office becomes a candle factory
• 1909 Repository (candle warehouse) erected in reinforced concrete
• 1944 Outsourcing of archives/destruction of the town hall
• 1945 Archive temporarily moved to the Obertor gate
• 1967 Municipal archive in the former post office and candle factory
• 1987 Complete renovation of 15 Oberstraße
• 2007 Ground floor renovated as a public area
• 2009 Renovation of the repository
• 2024 Archive building extension

Sources and texts: Neuss municipal archives
Graphic design: Cornelius Uerlichs
Translation: A.C.T. Fachübersetzungen GmbH

This plaque was donated by: FORUM Archiv und Geschichte Neuss e.V.