Versmold

Versmold or Vassem in Westphalian Platt is a city in Gütersloh District within the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia. It is positioned a few 30 km west of Bielefeld. In 1096 Versmold changed into first referred to in a report, and is therefore one of the oldest recognized settlements within the location. The name "-mould" alludes to "melle", "mal" a place of a court. Situated between the bishoprics Osnabruck and Münster, the ownership of Versmold turned into disputed for a long time inside the excessive Middle Ages. The population attempted to defend themselves as well as they could. The St. Petri church became constructed as a "Wehrkirche" for protection.

After 1277, while the counts of Ravensberg received ownership of the place of Versmold, the state of affairs modified. Versmold fashioned the western most metropolis of the historical county of Ravensberg with its capital Bielefeld. After the War of the Julich Succession in 1614 the county came to Brandenburg and later to Prussia. Within predominantly Catholic Westphalia, the county of Ravensberg became Protestant. In 1719 the King of Prussia Friedrich Wilhelm I granted city rights a good way to enhance more taxes. As consequence linen traders settled in the city, and Vermold advanced as a local center for the linen and yarn-spinning, mainly the production of crusing canvasas.