The workers’ housing estate in Rybnik Chwałowice began to emerge at the beginning of the 20th century. Its presence is associated with the development of the nearby mine. Recently, the Provincial Office for the Protection of Monuments in Katowice has decided to enter the housing estate in the register of provincial monuments
The establishment of the workers’ housing estate in Chwałowice is connected with the construction of a coal mine in this locality in 1897. At the end of the 19th century, the area was owned by the Henckel von Donnersmarck family. Between 1875 and 1897, Count Guido Henckel von Donnersmarck received from the authorities a grant of 19 mining fields, with an area of about 15 square kilometres, which when combined formed the basis for the creation of a new mine. In 1903 the sinking of the first shaft began, and on 02.09.1907 the mine named in honour of its owner “Donnsersmarck-Grube” was officially opened – informs the Provincial Monument Protection Office in Katowice
The protected buildings are located at 1 Maja Street. They are two-storey buildings built of brick on a rectangular plan with gabled roofs. The estate is located to the south of the KWK “Chwałowice” coalmine and to the east of the parish church of St. Theresa of the Child Jesus. Today, the estate is intersected by a row of trees growing along 1 Maja Street
The decision to enter it in the register was taken on 13 July this year. Both the residential and outbuildings, which are part of the estate, were placed under conservation protection. Initially, workers used three buildings erected in 1905. The construction of more familoks took place between 1910 and 1916. A total of 58 houses were built, and each could accommodate eight families. In addition, six four-family buildings and four villas for mine officials were built
Although one of the familokas was demolished in the 1970s, the others survived and today the estate consists of 43 buildings. All of them are permanently inhabited
Even before the First World War, 500 families lived on the estate. After the Second World War, the mine came under the management of the Central Board of the Coal Industry, based in Katowice, and then under the management of the Rybnik Coal Industry Association, based in Rybnik
We found out how valuable the infrastructure of the former mines is this summer. In Rybnik, the so-called Couples’ Square was opened near the two shaft towers of the KWK Ignacy mine. It is a recreational space that may become an architectural showpiece of the city. We wrote about what it looks like HERE
source: Voivodeship Office for Monuments Protection in Katowice
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