"However, on Sunday before, we had been told by the village administrator that we could cut down trees as serfdom without payment. We tried to avoid it and consequently everyone of us had been jailed in the tavern".
In the Land of God , Sources and Materials for the history of the Kłodzko: from the tenth to do the twentieth century,Herzig, M. Ruchniewicz, Kłodzko 2010
Inn (a restaurant, a tavern) was (and still is) a very important place in every village. It is mostly situated by the main road, at the crossroads, and it was a place where people could get something to eat or drink, as well as relax after a tiring journey, or purchase essential goods . The inn was important as it was a socio – political centre. Because of its role and size (in fact inside there was a large hall) all important meetings of local people took place there as well as, rural court sessions.
In medieval village, founded according to German law (such village was also Stary Wielisław) inn ownership was a privilege of a village administrator (in Kłodzko County a village administrator was called "free judge"). He organized and created the village in order to guarantee his economic monopolies.
The most important were the privilege of brewing process and beer selling in his inn, fishing and hunting rights , as well as right to settle of craftsmen in the village such as bakers, shoemakers, blacksmith etc.) and charge them for the annual rent .
From the document issued in 1419 we find out that free judges in Wielisław included a farm inhabited by craftsmen: a baker, a shoemaker and a blacksmith. Functioning one of the first craftsmen confirms hospitality of the inn. The fact is that all residents of the village could purchase all essential goods. In 1428 the village was plundered by the Hussites. Standing in the centre of the village inn shared the fate of many churches burnt that time in Wielisław. The Tavern was quickly rebuilt (this time it was built farther from the road).
The document from 1429 mentions that Ernst Bertolsdorf sold free judges in Wielisław, after proving his power of attorney, on behalf of his father, Stephe (Wilhamisdorff) with a mill, tavern, rents, inheritance law and all the appurtenances to Hans Heinrich, his wife Margaret and their children.
Once again, the documents mention the tavern in Wielisław in the sixteenth century. In 1525 earl Johann von Hardeck sold it to Caspar (Caspar) Stainichen and his wife Annie. Two years later, Hans Prag, burgrave of Kłodzko county and jurors confirmed that, in connection with the payment of the entire amount of money, Petz von Falkenau, the governor of the county , on behalf of Count Jan von Hardeck (Hardegk) relinquished the inn mentioned above and gave it to Caspar and Anna.
Developing cult of Our Lady of Sorrows in the following centuries had a great influence on crowds of pilgrims who were attracted to the local church, famous for its wonders. In fact, running the tavern was very profitable and lucrative business. That is why, the inn became an interesting place for the new owners of Wielisław, Klodzko Jesuits, who had already bought free judges in this village in 1603. On the one hand, well preserved document does not mention of the inn. On the other hand, we can read from another source, that in 1769 Jesuits sold the tavern including all fields of “free judges for 1500 thalers".
Since then, the inn had been held the meetings of "Conventual Court in Wielisław" (ordentlich Gericht zu Altwilmsdorf). In addition to its socio – economic function the building was also used for not very glorious purposes. In 1683 there was a dispute between local settlers, and the owner of Stary Wielisław village which was the Jesuit monastery in Kłodzko. All the rebels were sent to jail for one night. It was kind of a punishment for them. That time the tavern had been turned into a jail.
There is no knowing who was the owner of the inn after the dissolution of the Jesuits in the eighteenth century. However, we know that in the presence of the village administrator and aldermen was written so – called purchase document of the upper manor house in Wielisław. Since that time the national judge Franz Büttner became a new owner of it (" it happened in the Upper Wielisław in judicial inn on 5 April 1820").
We can find out that Anton Ignaz Richter became the owner of the inn in the first half of the nineteenth century. The source of information is the epitaph situated on the wall of Church in Wielisław and the foundation book that is kept in the parish records.
After his death the former inn was taken over by Joseph Kleiner. Foundation book reported that he was the owner of the inn in 1864, as its holder (Gasthofbesizter), whereas in 1872.
P. (Paul ?) Sappel was another owner of the inn. There was a small hall and a large number of guest rooms for pilgrims.
After Sappel's death his wife sold the inn to Franz Weigang. The new owner rebuilt the building completely. On the ground floor there was a dining room while on the first floor a hall with beautiful parquet floors and a theatre stage were situated right above the gate.
The inn had belonged to the same family until the end of World War II.
Today, the building of the former inn belongs to the Kozlowski family.
translate: M. Ziółko