“People from Eisengiesserei” — meeting with Małgorzata Malanowicz

We invite you to a unique meeting with Małgorzata Malanowicz, author of the book “People from Eisengiesserei” — a publication dedicated to the people, places and events that have contributed to the industrial heritage of Gliwice for decades.

The meeting will be moderated by Anna Graicke.

Why October 11th? The release date of the book is not accidental. October 11 marks the 224th anniversary of the birth of August Karl Eduard Kiss — one of the most prominent Silesian sculptors, a graduate of the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Berlin and an artist collaborating with the Royal Iron Foundry in Gliwice.

Who were the “people of Eisengiesserei”? “Eisengiesserei” is not only the name of the Royal Iron Foundry in Gliwice launched at the end of the 18th century. The term also referred to the district created by the smelter, where people associated with the developing industrial Gliwice lived and worked.

Their stories are one of the most important elements of the book. Among the figures described are people associated with the smelter, foundry and Eisengiesserei district, as well as people buried in the Metallurgical Cemetery (Hüttenfriedhof).

History of the smelter, the district and the cemetery At the end of the 18th century, the Gliwice smelter and foundry were among the most modern plants of this type in Europe. Their development attracted specialists, engineers and industrialists to the city, who brought with them knowledge, experience and new technologies.

In 1808, a metallurgical cemetery was established for the workers of the smelter and their families. Over the following decades, its history remained inextricably linked with the history of the smelter and the Eisengiesserei district.

“People from Eisengiesserei” — a book about people and their stories The author of the book is Małgorzata Malanowicz, an architect and passionate about local history.

She was born in Zabrze and has been living in Gliwice since 2006. In 1978 she graduated from the Faculty of Architecture of the Silesian University of Technology in Gliwice. Her interest in local heritage grew over time into a long-term activity to protect the city's history and monuments.

A special place in its activities is occupied by the Metallurgical Cemetery. Together with a group of Gliwiczans — passionate about history — she co-founded the Association for Cultural Heritage of Gliwice “Gliwice Metamorphoses”, one of the main goals of which was the revitalization of the cemetery.

In the book, in addition to the history of the smelter and the Eisengiesserei district, there are more than 80 biographical notes of people associated with this place, with a special focus on those buried in the Metallurgical Cemetery.

“People of Eisengiesserei” is a story not only about industry, architecture and sights. This is primarily the story of people whose life, work and fate have become part of the history of Gliwice.

We invite you to discover these stories together and get to know the people who co-created the industrial face of our city.