Haus Böckum

About

The name Böckum derives from Hof zu den Buchen ( Hof zo den Buechen ) and thus traces back to the beech forest that once extended as far as Böckum. Today, only the Duisburg city forest remains of it.

The moated castle was a fief of the Counts of Berg for centuries. The first documented mention dates back to 1345 in the form of the person Thyderich van den Boken, who can be identified as Dietrich von Rheinheim from the noble family of the Lords of Kalkum. Dietrich’s presumed daughter, Mechtild von Rheinheim, brought Böckum into the possession of Hermann von der Seldung (also known as Hermann von der Seeldonck or Hermann von Schlickum) through marriage. He served as Amtmann of Angermund from 1369 to 1391 and pledged Böckum in 1369 (then referred to as Hof zu den Buchen ). This same Hermann still owned Böckum in 1402 when he wrote his will, shortly before his death. Böckum then passed to the Lords of Ulenbroich through his daughter.

In 1405, during the Kalkum Feuds, Böckum was destroyed by Cologne mercenaries. From at least 1440 until around 1760, the Lords of Buer owned Böckum. The first recorded owner from this family was Hermann von Buir, who was married to Agnes von…