HOUSE NO. 8 – THE SCHLIK HOUSE
History
The construction of the house is attributed directly to Stephan Schlik, co-founder of the town. It is documented as early as 1520. It was probably originally built in the Late Gothic style with a timber-framed upper floor.
The house first burned during the major town fire of 1538 and was subsequently rebuilt in Renaissance style. During the devastating fire of 31 March 1873, the roof burned down, but the flames did not penetrate the interior, as evidenced by the surviving timber beam ceilings. The core of the building was saved thanks to period fire-prevention measures – wooden structures were coated with a thick layer of clay mortar, and brick tiles were used in the attic.
Later alterations replaced the original Renaissance cornice with a new one, although part of the original survived. The courtyard façade was also modified in connection with changes to the rear structures, especially the rear house that replaced earlier cellar spaces.
In 1981, a fire broke out in neighbouring House No. 9. Flames spread across the narrow stepped alley (Soutka) connecting the square with Mincovní Street and reached the roof of House No. 8. The roof burned down, and this time the ceilings of the first floor were also destroyed. Although a temporary fibre-cement roof was installed, comprehensive restoration never followed. Since then, the building has been deteriorating.
Decay was further accelerated by theft of metal roof elements, allowing rainwater to enter freely. Window and door openings remained open for long periods, exposing the building to weather damage.
Portal
The stone portal of Saxon type originates from the workshop of Jörg of Bamberg. It is a Renaissance portal with Late Gothic elements and ranks among the oldest stone-carving works in the town. In execution, it is related to the portal of the Mintmaster’s House (now preserved only in fragments in the museum lapidarium) and to the portal of the demolished House No. 112 in Mathesiova Street.
The richly profiled doorway is semicircular. Above the entrance is a double transom window with interwoven grille – a distinctive feature typical of Jáchymov, where double transoms were used instead of the more common single ones.
On either side stand profiled half-columns supporting the projecting cornice, which is additionally carried by six consoles.
Description
The house has two storeys and is oriented towards the street by its eaves side. The main façade consists of four axes of paired windows. The entrance portal is located in the third axis from the left. In the rightmost axis, remains of another, probably Baroque portal are visible after the plaster has fallen away. Window openings have been modernised.
On the first floor, original Renaissance window frames with intersecting mouldings survive in the first three axes from the left. The paired window in the rightmost axis is a modern alteration.
On the courtyard façade, an original doorway with a segmental arch and three window openings have been preserved – one on the ground floor and two on the first floor. An original small barred window to the chamber beneath the staircase and another barred window at the stair landing also survive. The gable façade retains an original semicircular window and a modern paired window.
The rear house was connected to the main building by side wings with a timber-framed upper storey. This part has largely collapsed, and only the barrel-vaulted ground-floor cellar of the rear building remains.
Interior
The Gothic-vaulted passage shows structural damage, during which fragments of Renaissance wall painting have been exposed.
Renaissance carved timber ceilings survive in the ground-floor rooms and are currently supported by temporary wooden scaffolding at the limit of their lifespan. One ceiling is covered by a Baroque reed ceiling with painted decoration, which is also deteriorating due to water ingress and neglect.
Timber-framed partition walls are likewise deteriorating. The Renaissance stone staircase railing is irreversibly damaged in its upper section. The original staircase to the attic is covered by a ribbed vault.
On the first floor, Renaissance frescoes have been uncovered in several rooms (including depictions of a merchant, a rooster, and other motifs). These frescoes were temporarily stabilised with fabric, which has now exceeded its lifespan and no longer provides protection, leading to gradual degradation of the paintings.
Photo gallery: https://mipalfi.rajce.idnes.cz/Dum_c.p._8/
