The Schilthof, located at the head of Freie Strasse and the Steinenberg was commissioned by merchant Rudolf Forcart-Hoffmann and his wife Valeria Sophia and built in 1840–1842. Forcart initiated the demolition of the small city gate, the Aeschenschwibbogen, in 1839, which had stood there previously. The demolition material was immediately used for building the Schilthof and the new staple market on Barfüsserplatz.