ŻYCHLIN – EARLY SPATIAL DEVELOPMENT OF A PRIVATELY FOUNDED TOWN

BOGDAN POPŁAWSKI
ŻYCHLIN – formerly a private town, is situated on the river Słudwia, at the border of the Mazovia region and the historical province of Łęczyckie, currently in the Łódź province. Its beginnings date back to the 14th century, whereas the phase before the town’s establishment in the days of the village Wieś Żychlińska dates back to the 12th century.
The establishment of the town, probably between 1340 and 1348 under the Chełmno law, was based on an oval-shaped system of walls of 7.5 x 4.5 ropes (Polish “sznur”– a historical measuring unit = 43.2m), with the market in its centre. The shape had originally been rectangular along a meridian line, and later evolved to be rectangular along a parallel.
Despite the subsequent numerous changes, this scheme of the town’s structure and major transportation routes were the basis for the town’s spatial development in years to come.
A brick and mortar castle was situated near the town, but it was destroyed by Swedish invaders and its establishment documentation has been lost.
This article is based on research carried out previously and on my own analyses and work. It reconstructs the original spatial scheme of the town, the shape of the market and the probable location of the town owner’s castle.
KEY WORDS
Żychlin, private chartered town, town spatial layout