Tuin, park en plantsoen, Bloemendalstraat bij 1

English translation

The text above is the record as published by the Rijksdienst voor het Cultureel Erfgoed, in Dutch. The English below is a machine translation made by TreeAlive, not by the Rijksdienst voor het Cultureel Erfgoed; it has not been checked by a person. Where the two differ, the original is the record. Report a translation error: privacy@treealive.com

Description

BORDER STAIRCASES WITH RETAINING WALLS, BALUSTRADES, PILLARS AND WROUGHT-IRON GATE. Monumental composition of border staircases on the main axis of the formal layout at the rear of the house, from the late 18th century. The border staircases, which bridge the gradually rising slope of the terrain, mark the entrance to the park on this side of the house and consist of a curved brick retaining wall, which also serves as a balustrade to the front of the terrace, with diagonally placed staircases on either side. The axis of these staircases, which lead to the terrace, is directed towards a former parterre located higher up on the main axis of the layout. In front of the latter former parterre a central brick staircase with 10 Namur stone steps located on the main axis, preceded by two low partial straight retaining walls with Namur stone coping stones, which curve arc-wise to the width of the staircase, and by two monumental Namur stone pillars with a wrought-iron gate in Louis XVI style. The layout of the border staircases was probably designed by Joseph Moretti and is closely related to the border staircases in a more south-westerly direction.

The diagonally placed staircases each have 10 steps of Namur stone. The curved brick balustrades of the staircases, which partly coincide with the curved retaining wall, are interrupted by Namur stone block pillars. On the main axis, the curved retaining wall and balustrade are interrupted by a Namur stone mirror-arch-shaped horizontally projecting plate. Originally, this mirror-arch-shaped projection was enclosed with a wrought-iron railing in Louis XVI style. The slightly bevelled sides of the terrace are defined by breastworks located in the extension of the outer balustrades of the diagonally placed staircases. At the rear of the terrace two low brick balustrades interrupted by Namur stone block pillars with Namur stone coping plates, which also retain the higher terrain behind towards the terrace. Originally, these walls were crowned with partly still preserved wrought-iron railings. At the height of the main axis, the walls curve quarter-circle-shaped forwards to connect with the aforementioned monumental pillars in Louis XVI style; this curved wall section is built higher than the other part of the balustrade and is provided with a rectangular niche. These rectangular composite pillars are fluted on the front and rear and are finished with a composite cornice and coping plate with generous overhang. At the top of the fluted sections of the pillars are flower garlands in relief. Originally, the pillars were presumably provided with stone urn-shaped finials. Currently, the pillars are crowned with 19th-century iron urn-shaped finials. The pillars flank a monumental wrought-iron gate in Louis XVI style, consisting of a double gate with curved top and with a substantial superstructure with latticework, rosettes, volutes and garlands with in the centre an oval shield crowned by a mascaron and urn with flowering tendrils bearing a monogram of two mirrored letters C; the monogram of Clermont. The double gate, which together with the superstructure has great ornamental value, is divided into panels with spars and culots and has on the lower sections and sides a panel with symmetrically arranged bandwork.