Historical information on Niedermehnen

The first documentary mention of Niedermehnen was in a document of 1242. In this document bishop “Johann von Minden” exchanged goods to be able to relocate the convent of Levern to “Leverdike”. The convent got the house “Heilwig” in “Nordmenethen” (Niedermehnen) and the mill in “Leverdike” and the bishop in contrast a house in Isenstedt.

In the year 1992 Niedermehnen celebrated it’s 750 year anniversary. As already shown in my site the name “Osterwisch” was mentioned the first time in a document which is dated between 1241 and 1247. So the family as well exists for more than 750 years.

The name Niedermehnen is derived from the type of landscape where this settlement can be found. This landscape consists of heathland, moor (swamp) and some sparse wood.

“Menethe” or “Mehnedhe” consists of “mene” and “ede”. “Ede” originates from the older “ithi” and means probably heathland, floodplain or open plain. “Mene” has probably the meaning “common, collective, corporate”. Therefor the name means “an der gemeinsamen Heide”. English: “at the common heathland”.

This picture shows the little bell tower of Niedermehnen, which is the village’s little landmark with a bell from 1575.

Niedermehnen had different names over the last centuries, as there were also “Northmenethen”  (North = north) and “Levermehnen”.

An interesting fact is that at the same time as Niedermehnen was settled, another village called “Obermehnen” was also mentioned, which is located about 20km south of Niedermehnen.

“Nieder” in English means “Lower” and “Ober” means “Upper”.

 

 

Recently the old bell tower, standing there for 40 years, was renewed and inaugurated on Nov. 27, 2004. Below you will find a picture.

More information on the renewal at http://www.niedermehnen.de/ aktuelles/glockenturm.html (german)

 

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