COAL HOUSE NO. 117
Introduction
The so-called coal houses represent one of the most characteristic building types of the historic urban fabric. They were constructed mainly during the sixteenth century, when the town became an important European mining and economic centre. The harsh mountain climate and the operational needs of a mining town required efficient fuel storage and a well-organised domestic infrastructure.
History
House No. 117 was built in 1527 and ranks among the oldest preserved coal houses. It combined residential and economic functions. A typical feature was the carriage passage allowing carts to enter the courtyard, where coal, wood and other materials necessary for heating and craft production were stored.
After the great fire of 1873, the building was altered and essentially acquired its present form. A prominent feature is the late Baroque façade and portal from 1782, complemented by later Classical modifications. The façade of House No. 117 is considered one of the rare examples of so-called local Baroque architecture in the town.
Description
The building is a two-storey burgher house with a passage leading to the courtyard. The ground floor served mainly operational and storage purposes, while the living quarters were located on the upper floor. This layout reflects the way of life in an early modern mining town.
The interior preserves Renaissance groin vaults in the passage and, on the upper floor, flat ceilings with a cove and a Baroque stucco ceiling panel. These features illustrate the building’s development from its Renaissance core through Baroque alterations to nineteenth-century interventions.
Heritage Value
Coal House No. 117 is a valuable example of sixteenth-century burgher architecture. Together with House No. 145, its façade represents a rare example of local Baroque style. The preserved structures and details provide insight into everyday life during the town’s period of greatest prosperity.
Photo gallery:
https://www.rajce.idnes.cz/mipalfi/album/jachymov-uhelny-dum-cp-117
