History

The building was ordered to be built by the authorities of the town. The construction started in 1859 and was completed in 1869. Initially, the building served as a warehouse for storing fire-fighting tools - water barrels and fire extinguishing vehicles. It has not been established when the function of the building was changed. However, until the outbreak of the Second World War, it housed butcher stalls. After the end of the war, it accommodated shops and outlets of service providers. To suit the needs of particular tenants, some of the original entrance openings were altered and their original symmetry was disrupted by the irregular arrangement of the shop windows. The interiors have been remodelled many times.

Currently, the building is being revitalized. When the revitalization project is completed, the building is to be looked after by the Museum of the Rawa Region. It will be used for organizing exhibition and storing a library collection. In addition to the revitalization project, the courtyard-facing back part of the building has been enlarged.

Description

The building is situated in the centre of the town, on a plot of land at the corner of Mickiewicza and Kopernika Streets. It is incorporated in the northern frontage of Mickiewicza Street.

The building is representative of a modest Neoclassical style. It was erected by a local builder.

The building was built on floor plan of a rectangle. It has one storey and its central part is higher than the side wings. The central part is accentuated by a pseudo avant-corps from the south and an avant-corps from the north. All three parts have gable roofs, also the middle part, which is positioned perpendicularly to the wings.

The building is made from solid bricks laid with lime mortar. The walls are plastered on both sides. The ceilings are made from wooden beams. The wooden roof truss has a collar beam structure and is clad with bituminous felt layers.

The southern elevation serves as the façade. It is seven-axial and asymmetrical. In the slightly extended middle part, there are two axes. They are topped with a triangular gable. The axes are delineated by two semi-circular recesses, in which rectangular door openings were placed. To the west of the avant-corps, there are two asymmetrical openings containing a shop window and the entrance to the shop. To the east, there are two shop window openings, with an entrance opening in between.

The northern elevation has five axes, with an avant-corps as the central element. This elevation is obscured by modern annexes. The eastern elevation does not contain any openings, the western elevation adjoins the neighbouring building. All the elevations are surrounded by a plinth and topped with a cornice.

The interiors have been converted into a contemporary style to suit the needs of the shop owners. 

None of the original fixtures and fittings have survived.

The building can be viewed from outside. Once the building is renovated and reopens as a museum, it will be accessible to the public during the opening hours of the museum.

Compiled by Anna Michalska, Regional Branch of the National Institute of Cultural Heritage in Łódź. 10 February 2020

Bibliography

• Januszkiewicz J., Rawa Mazowiecka i okolice, Łódź 1956
• Kalinowski W., Trawkowski St., Przebudowa Rawy Mazowieckiej w okresie konstytucyjnym Królestwa Polskiego (1815-1830) [in:] Studia z historii budowy miast, Warszawa 1955
• Katalog zabytków sztuki , woj. łódzkie, Warszawa 1954
• Katalog zabytków architektury, województwo skierniewickie, Warszawa 1996
• Poradowski R., Rawa i okolice, Rawa 1997
• Zarys dziejów Rawy Mazowieckiej do końca 1973 r., edited by S. M. Zajączkowski, Łódź 1975
• Archiwum Państwowe w Łodzi, Anteriora Rządu Gubernialnego Piotrkowskiego, reference number 1072