Essel was first mentioned in 1251 as
Esele. The surveillance of the Aller crossing at Essel and control of
Aller shipping was undertaken by the three lords of
Hademstorf. In the 14th century their seat was at
Uhlenburg. This castle was situated in the Aller valley between Essel and
Buchholz (Aller) and was destroyed in 1394 by the
Dukes of Brunswick-Lüneburg. Another castle was built in the 13th century at Engehausen—
Blankenburg Castle—on the site of which a manor house was subsequently built. ==References==