The origins of the complex go back to the 15th century, when a rear building with cellars, used as a warehouse, was erected behind the house that stood here. Two of its cellars, covered with stellar and cross vaults, have survived. The present townhouse was built at the turn of the first and second quarters of the 16th century and faces today’s Mieszka I Street.
The most characteristic feature of the building is its stepped gable, divided by horizontal cornices into five zones and decorated with blind niches. Originally there was a central entrance with windows on either side on the ground floor, and the interior was divided into living and storage areas. Similar grand merchants’ houses could be found in the most important Hanseatic towns, including Lübeck, Lüneburg and Wismar.
The townhouse was in continuous use until 1945. It was almost completely destroyed in the fighting – only the cellars and fragments of the outer walls survived. It was rebuilt in 1968–1973, restoring its historic form. Today it houses the Książnica Stargardzka library.
The library promotes literature and reading and carries out a wide range of cultural, educational and social activities. It also promotes historical heritage and supports initiatives for local identity and memory.
