Książki

Książki
Village
Country	Poland
Voivodeship	Kuyavian-Pomeranian
County	Wąbrzeźno
Gmina	Książki
Population	1,900

Książki [ˈkɕɔ̃ʂki] (German: Hohenkirch) is a village in Wąbrzeźno County, Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship, in north-central Poland. It is the seat of the gmina (administrative district) called Gmina Książki. It lies approximately 10 kilometres (6 mi) north-east of Wąbrzeźno and 45 km (28 mi) north-east of Toruń.

The village has a population of 1,900.

History

In 1635, 8 families from Silesia settled in Książki. However, a true beginning of the village is 24 June 1638 – the date when a charter according to the Olęder law (the Dutch law) was granted by duchess Anna Katarzyna Konstancja, starost of Brodnica. She settled German colonists there (so called Olędrzy). In historical sources appears a German name Ksionsken. The village became a member of the starosty of Brodnica. Olędrzy were colonists from the area of the present day Netherlands, Denmark and Rhineland. They were settling in the Duchy of Prussia (Prusy Książęce) and Royal Prussia (Prusy Królewskie) since the half of the 16th century, mainly in Żuławy and Greater Poland. They were reclaiming floodlands and boggy areas, as well as introducing new agricultural techniques. In the 17th and 18th century the name “Olędrzy” was associated with colonists in general, as well as with Poles with long-term lease who settled in the area of north-western Poland. Olęder planting of towns in Poland was a part of the great settlement movement in the area covering not only mentioned regions in Poland but also north coasts of Germany and Denmark. Olędrzy, mainly German colonists, were settling willingly in the area of north-western Poland because they were granted there economic privileges: lease, rent, end of serfdom, Lutherans – freedom of worship, tithe exemption.

The name “Ksionsken” (similar to "Books") does not stem from a book. It should be associated with Ksiądz (Priest) or, more probably, with Książę (Duke). It should be remembered that the charter was granted by the owner of the village, duchess Anna Katarzyna Konstancja, starost of Brodnica.

According to the record of church inspection which took place in 1672, there were Wielkie (Great) and Małe (Small) Książki. They were Dutch villages which were not paying tithe. Małe Książki, a Dutch village, was granted to settlers (there were 51 of them in 1738) in 1720 for 30 years. In 1744 starost of Brodnica had taken Książki Małe on perpetual lease. Starost Pleskowski prolonged the lease for 40 years in 1750. In 1773 Książki was inhabited by 56 peasant families (including 4 Catholics). There was a wooden church dating from 1720. It was surrounded by a cemetery, there was also a bell tower on a scaffolding. An evangelical school was functioning there. When in 1797 the Prussian government sold the estate, it was covering 35 włóka (1 włóka chełmińska = 17.955 ha), 20 morga (1 morga = about 1 ha), 91 pręt (1 pręt = 5.0292 m) of arable land, 3 włóka of meadows and a big peat bog. According to the record from 1797, the estate Małe Książki was obliged to: pay rent for the government cashier office in Brodnica, provide feed for cavalry, provide horses in case of the king’s visit in the country, send people for wolf hunting and building fortifications and churches, transport alcohol from the brewery in Kruszyn, maintain flows and drainage ditches from the Sitnowski Canal which were crossing the area of the estate. The land was often changing its owners. In 1828 it was owned by widow Wierzbicka (her maiden name) from Trzcian. In the same year 61 peasants were granted freehold (46 włóka); they were obliged to maintain the Sitnowski Canal. 3 plots were added to Małe Książki in 1873. They previously belonged to Niemieckie (German) Łopatki and were exchanged for 360.08 ha which was used for building the railway Toruń-Olsztyn. The estate changed its owner once again in 1877. One year later, Małe Książki was renamed as “Gut Hohenkirch”. Until 1872 the estate changed its owner twice. The name “Hohenkirch” was used till 1868. A church was being built from 24 July 1868 to 18 June 1869. In 1900 a 4-class school, and 2-class school were under construction. Baptists established in Książki a chapel in 1864.

The evolution of the name “Książki”

Książki within the space of about 300 years was changing its name:

- When it was located, in 1638, it was called Ksionsken.

- According to the evangelical community of Książki record of baptisms, marriages and deaths, the name was spelled Gros Xiążken (Wielkie Książki). There was also Małe Książki (Klein Xiążken – a landed estate, after the Second World War it was a state- owned farm – Polish PGR).

- In the 19th century, until 1878, an original name was used. (Ksionsken).

- Since 26 June 1878 German administration introduced a new name: Hohenkirch (a high church) after a church existing to the present day is finished.

- After regaining independence of Pomerania, 20 January 1920, the village was given the Polish name Książki.

- From 6 September 1939 to 22 January 1945 (occupation), Germans reintroduced and used the name Hohenkirch

- On 24 January 1945, after regaining independence, the village was given its prewar name – Książki.

It is an interesting detail that in 1902 a new brickyard opened by a landed estate (Małe Książki), which was functioning until 1943, was inscribing on their bricks the name “Ksionsken”. In the records of a Catholic church in Lemborg, that village is called “Xiążki”.

Monuments

- the parish church dedicated to the Holy Trinity from 1867 and a presbytery

- a primary school - the end of the 19th century

- a house at Główna Street from 1908

- the post office – the beginning of the 20th century

- a cottage from the 19th century

- Teacher’s House, the beginning of the 20th century