Stolp

Stolp, or Stolpe, a town of Germany, in the Prussian province of Pomerania, on the Stolpe, 10 m. from the Baltic Sea and 64 m. W. of Danzig on the railway to Stargard, and with branches to Stolpmiinde and Neustettin. Pop. (1905), 31,154. The large church of St Mary, with a lofty tower, dating from the 14th century, the Renaissance castle of the 16th century, now used as a prison, and one of the ancient town-gates restored in 1872 are memorials of the time when Stolp was a prosperous member of the Hanseatic League. It has also the church of St John, built in the 13th century, a new town hall, and a statue of Bismarck. The manufacture of machinery, amber articles, tobacco and cigars, and bricks, with some iron-founding, linen-weaving, and salmon-fishing in the Stolpe, are the chief industrial occupations of the inhabitants, who also carry on trade in grain, cattle, spirits, timber, fish and geese. Stolpmiinde, a fishing-village and summer resort, at the mouth of the river, is the port of Stolp.

Stolp, mentioned in the r 1 th century, received town rights in 1273. From the r4th to the 16th century it was a member of the Hanseatic League. Until 16 3 7, when it passed to Brandenburg, the town was generally in the possession of the dukes of Pomerania.