»» Turmgasse 1
For many centuries, this late Gothic oriel had a central meaning for the city’s linen trade. Since 1667, once a year, the so called «Werckhmarcktsordnung», has been read from this oriel to the population of the city St.Gallen. This oriel captivating by its simple elegance and is made of stone.
This regulations regulated the trade with flax and tow – the raw materials of the linen industry. Therefore price guidelines were promulgated at this place, or speculative bids and inter-trading were prohibited. Over the centuries, the linen trade formed the backbone of the entire eastern Swiss economy.
The linen industry in St. Gallen was the most important export of the Swiss Confederation in the 16th century, and Daniel Schlumpf, who owned the house with this bay window, was considered one of the city’s wealthiest cloth merchants.
As a result of the 30 year war (1618-1648), the company «Kaspar Schlumpfs Erben» went bankrupt in 1644. The family lost everything they owned and as well the house.
