page_title: Great Tower Neuwerk
section_title: History
hierarchical_section_title: Great Tower Neuwerk / History
caption_attribution_description: Deutsch: Turm von Neuwerk bei Sturmflut. Stahlstich von Jens Gray nach einer Zeichnung von Johann Heinrich Sander. Um 1840. 15,3 x 10,2 cm. Weiterhin abgebildet: Schul- und Bethaus am TurmEnglish: Tower of Neuwerk at storm surge. Steel engraving by Jens Gray after a drawing by Johann Heinrich Sander. About 1840. 15.3 x 10.2cm
context_page_description: The Great Tower Neuwerk is the most significant building of the Neuwerk island, belonging to Hamburg. Completed in 1310, the structure is one of the oldest worldwide that was used as lighthouse and still standing. This former beacon, watchtower and lighthouse is also the oldest building in Hamburg and oldest secular building on the German coast.
context_section_description: The construction of the 'new werk' was started in 1300. It was completed after ten years in 1310. The style of a keep matches the common Norman tower type of the time. Contrary to some literature, the tower was built in this form from the beginning. The fire in the 1360s destroyed most of the wooden elements and it had to undergo major reconstruction.
  The original roof was made of lead, and was replaced by copper in 1474. This was again replaced in 1558 by a tiled roof and by a new copper roof following that. The copper was then used for military purposes in 1916 reconstructed later.
  The original purpose was to host troops to defend the ships entering and leaving the Elbe from sea and beach pirates. The tower was also refuge for the farmers on the island during storm surges and survivors of shipwrecks over the centuries.
  The tower marked the most northern measuring point for the triangulation of the Kingdom of Hannover by Carl Friedrich Gauss in July 1825. Parts of this triangulation net were depicted on the back of last series of the 10 Deutsche Mark note (1989–2001).
  The tower of Neuwerk is officially Hamburg's oldest building. A church in Sinstorf is actually older, but only part of Hamburg since the Greater Hamburg Act of 1937.
  The tower is protected under cultural heritage management since 1924 and the surrounding dwelling hill since 1971. It is used as viewpoint, guesthouse and restaurant.
caption: Neuwerk Tower at storm surge (around 1840)
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