Industrie, Tichelwei 22

English translation

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Description

BRICK KILN COMPLEX markedly situated in the landscape to the south-west of the terp village Oostrum in a bend of the Dokkumer Grootdiep. The complex was established in 1873 as a steam brick factory by Jan Helder Pzn., merchant of Aalzum. The steam engine would comprise 12 hp and be provided with a steam boiler 4.40 metres long by 1.60 metres wide; the associated chimney would be 9 metres high and have a diameter of 1.60 (measured at ground level). Already in 1876 significant expansions took place: the ring kiln received 18 separate closures or stoking chamber doors and for the discharge of smoke and vapour a chimney placed in the middle; this was heightened to 35 metres in 1879. In the factory, among other things, smooth red extruded brick was manufactured. Production ceased in 1968.

Description

Of the historical components present on the site, the brick works with chimney, an older storage shed (which is primarily protected due to its characteristic form) and three younger storage sheds are of national importance. The other historical components, namely the loading and unloading quay, the engine house, the oldest storage shed, the shop/office building, the block of workers' housing with peat shed and the converted manager's dwelling are considered to be of local significance.

The 60 metre long brick kiln on rectangular plan is built of bright red extruded brick and is covered by a hipped roof tiled with red and blue Frisian pan tiles with wooden roof truss structure. 18 simple wooden doors give access to the same number of half-cylindrical vaulted stoking chambers of the elliptical ring kiln, which is likewise built of red brick. Internally several wooden stairs lead up to the stoking loft with fire pots. The shaft of the red brick chimney is articulated by two series of saving bays which are crowned by a collar of decorative brickwork; this collar formed the original termination of the flue; the expansion of 1879 is simpler in character.

The storage shed, late-19th-century in its original form, with 'three-aisled' design, adjoining the storage shed, measures approximately 40 metres and is built of wood; the 'central aisle' is covered by a roof originally covered with roof felt (now with asbestos corrugated sheet); the 'side aisles' are flat-roofed. The wooden load-bearing structures have been partly removed.

The three early-20th-century storage sheds to the east of the brick kiln are approximately 75 metres long and are covered by saddle roofs tiled with red pan tiles; in the wooden walls resting on red brick piers are fitted drying shutters; internally the wooden load-bearing structures with drying racks are still present, likewise on piers.

Valuation

Brick kiln complex from 1873 onwards, consisting of ring kiln, an older and three younger storage sheds of general industrial-archaeological significance due to:

-the relative integrity of the complex, in particular the brick works with ring kiln and chimney, the best preserved older storage shed and the sober-functional, yet nevertheless monumental qualities of a number of complex components

-the particular design of the chimney

-the presence of several typologically and functionally interrelated complex components (some of which are of national importance, some of local importance)

-the fact that this was at the time one of the earliest well-functioning ring kilns in the Netherlands -the fact that the brick kiln is the only reasonably well-preserved complex in Friesland, so that regional uniqueness can be spoken of -the continuation (until 1968) by this factory of the medieval brick production in Oostrum, which is demonstrated on the basis of traces in the southern edge of the village terp -the marked location on the Dokkumer Grootdiep