Manor house
The factory owner's house was built on the grounds of the Gernheim glassworks in 1812, the same year the glassworks was founded. Four generations of the Schrader family lived there until the factory closed in 1879.
Restoration
After being taken over by the Industrial Museum, the building underwent extensive restoration: extensive building research enabled some of the original features – such as wallpaper, windows and door fittings – to be reconstructed. The room layout has also been restored to closely resemble the original building. Special exhibitions on glass design and glass art are regularly held on the upper floor of the manor house.
Permanent exhibition
The permanent exhibition on the ground floor highlights everyday life in the manor house.
Children were born there, parties were held, and family, friends and business partners were welcomed. Fritz, Rudolf and Wilhelm Schrader, the three successive main owners, ran their businesses from here. The diary of Clementine Schrader, Wilhelm Schader's wife, provides an insight into the everyday life of the wives: Clementine devoted herself to the large household, raising the children and maintaining contacts.
In the permanent exhibition, remnants of the household furnishings convey an impression of the prosperity that was also expressed in the rural environment through silverware and tableware. On display here are mainly glass objects that give an impression of the hut production of the time: medicine glasses, binding glasses, wine and schnapps glasses, but also magnificent engravings.
Manor house garden
Behind the factory owner's residence lies the manor garden, which has been reconstructed according to historical plans. Even today, apple trees remind us that it once served not only as an ornamental garden but also as a kitchen garden. Fruit, vegetables and even wine were grown and stored in a cellar near the banks of the Weser. Today, the garden, which is connected to the ‘Sigwardsweg’ pilgrimage route, invites visitors and hikers to linger and enjoy the view of the Weser.
