Amselgrund / Melanchthon Grammar School (O15QR2)

Amselgrund was part of the northern fortifications. Tributaries fed into two streams here alongside the neighbouring streets (now Neustrasse and Wilhelm-Weber-Strasse). The water was guided across the moat into the town through the fortifications using ‘arks’. The structure, which was probably built in the Middle Ages, consisted of wooden troughs joined together and supported at the sides by wooden frames, and passed into the town through brick-lined culverts in the fortifications.

 

After defortification began in 1873, the moat was turned into parkland and building work began on the glacis, the post office (1893) and Melanchthon Grammar School (1888) being followed by the first playground.

 

Despite backfilling the moat and raising the footpaths, the Ramparts were often waterlogged. For this reason, the decision was taken in 1908 to partly divert the streams underground. Even so, because the system of subterranean streams at the Ramparts is still connected to the Elbe, whenever the river level rises, the effects can still be seen on the Ramparts.