The handcraft in Sayda

In general, the Middle Ages, were rural-orientated and there were only few craft occupations, e.g. stonecutters, bricklayers, blacksmiths and millers. Many of the goods were made from unfree soccage farmers or free farmers. In the High-Middle Ages a lot of talented craftsmen went to the developing cities to get more money. The increasing demand had changes the working behaviour from remittance work to permanent work. The produced products were sold at markets and in shops.

That was the reason that the civic closed themselves together to guilds. The rules were create and mentioned in the guilds, e.g. training rules, work schedules, product quality and prices. In addition to its economic function, the guilds had also religious, social, cultural and military functions. If craftsman liked to work in the city they have been a member of the guild.

After becoming the municipal law in 1442, Sayda's handcrafts were rising. All guilds received the letter of guilds, in 1443 the bakeries, in 1448 the weavers of linen, in 1480 the dress makers, after them the shoemakers, the butchers, the locksmith, the hosiery knitters, coopers, the clothier, the chantlers and the blacksmith (that chop from 1560 is existing in the museum). Many of the guilds existed till the 20th century. Each guild had two foremen, who were elected by the city council; they had all their own seal.

Sayda utilized the special law for brewing and powing beer. Only the Schönbergs held the right to brew their own beer and until 1894 a brewing society had existed.

Today in Sayda are established electronic-, building-, painting- and plumber handcraft. There exist also a car dealership, a dental laboratory, an optician, a wood toy manufacturer and a furniture company. 

On the Area of the company A. Adam (road-, underground- and civil engineering) Sayda a Museum of roadwork is existing. On the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the company, a completely reconstructed steamroller (from 1925) was started up on the 5th June. There are also exposing several exemplars according to road works. Please make a phone call before you want to visit the museum! (Company Andreas Adam, Dresdner Str. 77, 09619 Sayda; contact: Roland Mehner, phone.: 037365 / 1278)

Impressive is also the drilling of tubes in Friedebach (part of Sayda). There is the only existing tube-drilling company (from 1860) in Europe.  (Technical museum of tube-drilling 09619 Friedebach, phone.: 03 73 65 / 14 62)

(by: Catrin Bilz)