In the area surrounding the Wallstraße, between Spittelmarkt and what is now Köllnischer Park, the demolition of the wall freed up space for manufacture and commerce. Markets had been held since 1750 at Spittelmarkt, and craftspeople manufactured their goods in the neighbouring houses. The town centre with the Petrikirche was close by and easy to reach via the Grünstraßen Bridge (Grünstraßenbrücke). 

The Splittgerberscher Gardens between Roßstraße and Inselstraße was commissioned by the financier David Splittgerber. The garden grounds were acquired by the National Mother Lodge “Zu den Drei Weltkugeln” in 1799.

The first significant sugar works were built in 1749 on the adjacent grounds of the Köllnischer Park and were also run by David Splittgerber. After the works came a hospital that later housed a municipal lunatic asylum and an orphanage. The Waisenbrücke (Orphan Bridge) connected the Wallstraße to the Spreeufer opposite.

A private observatory (1705 to 1905) was also to be found nearby, together with the Köllnische Grammar School (1868) - from which the Teacher’s House still survives today - and later some public baths (1888).

Introduction

Water, city expansion and the stronghold period until the late 17^th century

Sugar, freemasons and bathing in the 18^th and 19^th centuries

Textile industry, federations and city museum post-1900

Prominent roles and central location along the wall in the GDR

Back to the centre post-1989