Haus Velmede

Haus Velmede stands south-west of Weddinghofen in Bergkamen, beside the Spulbach stream. It began as a knightly stronghold in the 13th century and later became a moated manor. The von Velmede family held the estate until 1392, when it passed through heiresses to the von Boenen, then the von der Hege, the von Oeynhausen and finally the von Bodelschwingh family, who still own it today. The counts of the Mark once exchanged the property with Cappenberg Abbey in 1294. Little is known of the original fortress, for only fragments of its 19th-century successor survive.

The present brick manor house dates from 1849 and shows simple neo-classical lines under a slate roof. Decorative stonework highlights doorways and windows, while the southern moat has shrunk to a narrow ditch. Most of the old farm buildings have been replaced by modern structures, yet the layout still hints at the former courtyard. The estate once formed part of a wider medieval defence network around Kamen. Written records from 1392 and 1393 list its feudal obligations in detail.

Visitors find a quiet country house set among lawns and mature trees beside the stream. The brick façade and stone trim give the building a restrained elegance. Remains of the old moat curve along the south side, and modern farm courts lie beyond. The surrounding parkland stretches towards Bergkamen’s outskirts, offering a peaceful walk along the Spulbach. From the house’s entrance one looks across meadows where medieval ploughland once lay.