Beginning of the town and Czech period –till  1526

 

Nowa Ruda is a town geographically positioned in the valley of Włodzica River and its tributaries, between  Góry Sowie ( Owl Mountains ) and Wzgórza Włodzickie.  The town is set on former trade routes leading from present Czech Republic to Silesia. The growth of the settlement took place during the period of German colonization under the reign of Czech king Ottokar II of Bohemia (1253-1278).  The town was mentioned for the first time in the oldest  Kłodzko  municipal foundation book that dates back to 1337.  It names Reynhart of Nowa Ruda, the parish priest. In 1347 the settlement belonged to Hannus Wusthub that in 1352 sold Nowa Ruda properties to Donyn family.
In the period of next 120 years weaving, cloth and shoe making developed in the town.  This development bore fruit in form of granting firstly the shoe makers in 1404 and secondly the cloth makers in 1416 the guild statute.  The Hussite raids between 1427-1429 led  Nowa Ruda to ruins. After granting by the Donnyn family rights anew in 1434 the town slowly started to rebuild. It is also year 1434 that mentions a hard coal mine on Nowa Ruda grounds for the first time.

In 1472 Georg Stillfried, one of „golden knights” of Czech king  George Podiebrad marrying the sister of the last owners, Ann of the Donyns, became the lord of Nowa Ruda.  He and his family remained related to Nowa Ruda for next three centuries.
    
The Austrian period  (1526-1742)
In XVIth century the Stillfrieds became ardent advocates of Protestantism. This attitude brought  raid of count Bernard Thurn on Nowa Ruda in 1622 during thirty year’s war ( 1618-1648 ). The Stillfrieds were taken prisoners and after  returning to Catholicism they were returned Nowa Ruda properties.

     After the purchase of Kłodzko region by Prussian ruler from Czech ruler in 1742 Nowa Ruda was incorporated into Prussian state.  In subsequent years the Stillfrieds became owners of nearly one third of Kłodzko region. In 1810 the Nowa Ruda properties were taken over by von Magnis family and remained their property until 1945.
    In 1855 Nowa Ruda became the seat of the district that included two towns ( Nowa Ruda and Radków ) and thirty seven villages. In the second half of XIX th century the textile industry brought economic arousal to the region.  Also the coal mining became more and more significant. Following coal pits were set up “Ruben” in Nowa Ruda, “Johan Baptist” in Słupiec, “Rudolph” in Przygórze and “ Wenzeslaus” in Ludwikowice.

    
Since 1871 Nowa Ruda belonged to Second  German Reich. In 1879 a railway track from Kłodzko reached Nowa Ruda.   A year later the railway track was extended to Wałbrzych. In next decade the most tragic fire destroyed vast parts of Nowa Ruda. On May 23rd 1884 the fire  engulfed many houses in the market square and the parish church.

Nowa Ruda avoided direct combat in WWI but many of its citizens were drafted to German army and lost their lives. The town suffered from post war economic crises. In 1932 resulting  from administrative reform of the then Germany Nowa Ruda lost status of district city. After seizure of power by Adolf Hitler the national socialist movement entered the town.
    In 1937 the 600th anniversary of the town was celebrated.  On this occasion the Nowa Ruda Chronicle, written by professor Joseph Witig was issued.
Also WW2 operations did not engulf Nowa Ruda.  The town however was struck by another disaster. The  most terrible catastrophe in  Nowa Ruda “Ruben” coal mine claimed 187 lives.   

 Polish period – since  1945
   After Third Reich capitulation Nowa Ruda was seized  by Red Army troops.  June marked the arrival of first Poles into the town.  After the settlement of territorial disputes with the Czechs about Kłodzko region Nowa Ruda has been incorporated into Poland. Edward Miernik was established the first mayor and priest Michał Białowąs, a repatriate from Lvov diocese, the first parish priest of Nowa Ruda.

     Nowa Ruda was settled with Polish population arriving from central Poland and by repatriates from eastern frontier. Also Polish miners from France and other Poles scattered all over Europe began to flow in into the town.  This melted people created a specific society which underwent a difficult process of integration over years.

   The post war inhabitants of Nowa Ruda found jobs in textile industry and in coal mining.   Nowa Ruda Hard Coal mine was established and it incorporated the then „Ruben” coal mine and  „Słupiec” coal mine, the then „Johann  Babtistagrube”.   Zakłady  Przemysłu Włókienniczego „Nowar”  ( “Nowar” Textile Works ), specializing in artificial silk production were opened.  

  In  1954  Nowa Ruda became the seat of the Nowa Ruda district for the second time. It was at that time the smallest district of the then Wrocław Province. The district was maintained until administrative reform of the country in 1975.


In 1970 the construction of Miejski Ośrodek Kultury (  Town Culture Center ) was finished and two years later Nowa Ruda International Festival of Art School Students was organized. The event was marked by appearance of white steam engine in Nowa Ruda. Later Nowa Ruda was administratively joined with Słupiec.



In late 70s tragic accidents left their stamp on Nowa Ruda coal mine. 17 miners lost their lives in 1976 and three years later another seven miners tragically died.  During martial law Nowa Ruda miners came out on strike. Later they were arrested and prosecuted.  


1989, the year of transformation, was marked by Nowa Ruda inhabitants activity. In 1990 first local government elections were held.  In Nowa Ruda the candidates of Civil Committee received all mandates in 28 person Municipal Council.  Stanisław Łukasik was chosen the mayor.  In July the same year local magazine “ Gazeta Noworudzka” was issued for the first time. In 1991 Nowa Ruda authorities signed partnership agreement with German city Castrop-Rauxel and French town Wallers-Arenberg. Later the partnership agreement was signed with Czech Broumov.  

     In 1992 Nowa Ruda Hard Coal Mine was put on the liquidation process.  „Piast” section of the coal mine was already  closed in 1994. The “Słupiec” section of the coal mine was closed in 2000.  In the meantime also “Nowar” textile works and Dzierżoniów branch of Diora, radio producing works,  were closed.  Also many other smaller business were liquidated making unemployment in Nowa Ruda very high.