The original name of the city was Gladbach , by which it is still often known today. Gladbach , without a hyphen. The town was founded around Gladbach Abbey in It was named after the Gladbach, a narrow brook which mostly runs underground today. The abbey and adjoining villages became a town in the 14th century. There are numerous cairns from the Neolithic and Bronze Ages.
To improve the settlement, the monks created a market north of the church in the 12th century. Craftsmen settled near the market. Gladbach received its town charter in — The "town" erected a town wall made of stone, which had to be maintained by the citizens. Remains of the wall can be found at the Geroweiher, as can remains of the "Thick Tower", an old fortified tower at the Waldhausener hill.
This was the end for the abbey, and the monastery was closed. On 31 October , the last 31 monks left the monastery.
The contents of the tremendous abbey library, well known outside Germany, were scattered or destroyed. In , Gladbach became part of the Kingdom of Prussia and seat of the Landkreis Gladbach , which was dissolved in The bomber crews were attempting to interdict German troop movements on roads, intersections and rail lines in the area, especially the city's railyards.
About half of the approximately 36 twin-engine Royal Air Force RAF bombers reportedly hit their targets, and three were shot down. In addition, a textile-oriented machine industry also developed. After the Second World War, a major structural change began, reducing the importance of the textile industry and attracting new economic sectors.
