Brunnenhausmuseum mit Historischer Ochsentretanlage

Description

The Brunnenhausmuseum in Schillingsfürst preserves a functioning ox-driven treadwheel system and thus presents a rare surviving example of historical water engineering in the German-speaking region.

The museum is housed in the former Fürstliches Brunnenhaus at Brunnenhausweg 25 and offers a view into the so-called Dragonersgrund.

The building was originally constructed as a supply facility for Schloss Schillingsfürst. The system drew on the Heiligen Bronnen spring, located about 1.5 kilometres away, the only permanently bubbling spring on the ridge of the castle hill. Because of the great distance and the slight gradient, around 1702 a special technique was implemented: an ox-driven treadwheel system with wooden pipelines pumped water to the castle and supplied the ground floor, the gardens and the brewery with running water. In 1729 a water tower with a reservoir was added; in 1887 the tower was raised to reach the first upper floor as well. At the beginning of the 20th century an electric pump replaced the mechanical device. After phased use into the 1940s, conservation measures began in 1959; the building was taken over by the local heritage association, opened to visitors in the following years and fully renovated in 2006/07.

The operation of the ox-driven treadwheel system is based on the principles of the inclined plane and the lever. The weight of a draft animal sets an obliquely mounted rotating disc in motion; this could generate about 500 watts of power and pump roughly 40 litres per minute. From the outside the animal appeared almost stationary.

The historic pumping system and the water tower form the technical core of the museum. In the former well-keeper’s apartment, everyday objects, tools, furniture as well as clothing and linens, mostly from the 19th century, are on display, documenting life and work in Schillingsfürst. A herb garden modelled on the St. Galler Klostergarten complements the exhibition.

Museum educational programmes on water and local history for primary and lower-secondary schools round off the concept; the institution is operated on a voluntary basis by a regional association.