Landed estates and noble residences in Wojcieszów

Wojcieszów is located in the southwestern part of Silesia, in the Kaczawskie Mountains of the Western Sudetes. Historically, it lay within the borders of the Duchy of Świdnica-Jawor. The village is characterised by a multitude of residential buildings that have been in use over the centuries, a consequence of significant land fragmentation and the village’s size, i.e. its area and economic potential. The author aimed to identify medieval and Renaissance noble residences by analysing written sources, historical cartography and architectural research on the Stöckel Palace, as well as conducting field inspections of selected buildings. The discussion focuses on indicating the location of historical farms and manors, presenting data on nomenclature and providing information on changes in land ownership in Wojcieszów. The results of the presented analyses make it possible to identify the families who owned estates in Wojcieszów, and to date the town’s current area to the Middle Ages and the 17th and 18th centuries, when ownership was most fragmented. They also reveal the final changes related to the merging and disappearance of individual estates in the light of the town’s industrial development. Based on the information gathered, it is possible to date the existing palaces to the Middle Ages and the Renaissance.