“In count’s garden, belonging to the land lord Müller, a spring of acidic water comes from the underground. It is similar in taste to that of Kudowa but milder. Its water flows through pipes under the hayfield to a well, covered by a small shed where it can be drawn.”
Alphabetisch – statistisch – topographische Uebersicht der Dörfer (…)
der königl.Preußz. Prowinz Schlesien, von J. G. Knie, Breslau 1845
Coming to Wielisław form Kłodzko direction, right behind a chapel – mausoleum of father Jan Ziębicki on the right hand side we pass once splendid park and manor buildings described in historical sources as the lower manor.
The history of this place dates back to 1345 when documents mention the first owner of the manor Andrzej of Wielisław. He was one of the richest townsfolk of Kłodzko county (apart from the manor in Wielisław he also owned estates in Ścinawka Dolna, Ratno, Trzebieszowice, and Krosnowice). In 1351 Andrzej bequeathed half of the manor to his wife which after her death would pass to their children. The estate was then 31.5 hectares large. It remained in his family’s possession until the beginning of the 15th century.
Near the manor in December 1428 bloody battle between Silesian knights, led by father Jan Ziębicki, and the Hussites took place. Burned down by the latter the manor was partly rebuild by a new owner Mikołaj son of Mikołaj of Piszkowice. Sold in 1439 to Jan a judge of Ścinawica. Another owners were Mikołaj Heynke and Jan Deihart. In 1482 they sold to Zbinco Buchowicz of Buchowo (court marshal of Kłodzko and owner of Radków) demesne and the manor covering the area of about 39 hectares in lower Wielisław whereas all estate was earlier divided into 12 lots with all the buildings, orchard, fields, hayfields, crops, gardens, gardeners, abandoned houses, farms, weeds, woods, sheep grazing, quarry, rents, ponds, roads, paths, claims, freedoms, benefits, fruit, vegetables, harvests. Both parts were joined into one manor comprising henceforth castle of Kłodzko manorial.
In the beginning of the 16th century the manor became a possession of count Ulryk von Hardeck. Disposing of significant incomes he was well known of many foundations in lands of Kłodzko. He build a beautiful park by the river Bystrzyca below the manor with arbors, alleys, unique trees for his wife Zdena (daughter of Henryk Starszy duke of Ziębice). Also mineral water was piped there form the nearby spring. In the beginning of the 20th century it covered the area of 1.5 hectares. Childless, after his wifes death (1522), the count sold the manor in 1525 to Jerzy Adler a townsman of Kłodzko. After his death the estate passed to another townsman Paweł Kresel who married widowed Jerzy’s wife.
In 1589 Jerzy’s son Maciej sold the manor to his cousin Krzysztof Peschke of Gorznów for 3400 kopas (old measure for coins).
In the beginning of the 17th century he came into conflict with Jesuits. The official reason of the feud was use of gardens, pond, hunting, pasture, and unsettled claims of 100 kopas. A settlement was made on the 24th January 1615. There was also another deeper cause of the conflict. Now lost note from Wielisław parish archives stated that in 1620 during his rebellion Krzysztof Peschke (who was of Augsburg creed) committed many misdemeanors against Catholicism, authority, other people, and clergymen. Thus his possessions were confiscated after the rebellion had been put down in 1625. He should have been beheaded but at the request of Jesuits his life was spared. He lost his possessions and was forever banished from the county. In 1626 Jesuits bought his estate back form royal administration department and thus came into possession of the whole village. 4 years later the monks took tithe equal 8.5 korzec (old Polish dry measure) of grain.
In 1690 they deconstructed the manor endangered of collapsing and build a firmer one. Jesuits were owners of the estate until the order was disbanded in 1776.
After confiscation of monastic property the manor became a part of the Royal Scholar Institute established by Frederick the 2nd and was leased. Soon after it was auctioned (1787). The estates of Szalejów Dolny and Stary Wielisław consisting of 8 villages and 3 manors altogether were prized 86000 thalers. They were to bring annual income of 2150 thalers from leasing. Highest offer – 48000 thalers was bid by Friedrich Wilhelm Graf von Redem a member of a Secret Royal Financial Council and a wine-taster to the emperor. The count sold the property to his sister Wilhelmina von Münchausen next year. She then sold it in 1819 to an unknown consortium. Same year the lower manor was bought form the consortium for 19200 thalers by Joseph Müller the administrator of Tannenberg demesne. There were 22 houses and 96 residents of catholic faith then in Dolny Wielisław. After his death the estate passed to his sone Heinrich. It consisted then of 27 houses and 122 residents of catholic faith. In 1838 Heinrich renovated the manor. The estate was inherited by his brother Karl Műller after Heinrich’s death. In 1870 417 units of land measure belonged to the manor and in 1885 it covered 106 hectares of infields (89 hectares of cornfields, 11 hectares of hayfields, 3 hectares of woods). The estate then consisted of a manor house and 3 other buildings with a total number of 20 residents. Karl was known as a charity activist. Among others, in 1890 he founded 50 marks for poor school-children of Kłodzko. The manor stayed in Müllers’ possession until the 20s’ of the 20th century. Last prewar owner was Joachim Friedrich.
translation: R. Augustyniak