Buitenplaats Westhove

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

Introduction

1: MAIN BUILDING.

A. EXTERIOR: After destruction in 1572 of the greater part of the medieval castle (except the towers) the castle was presumably rebuilt in brick in two storeys in the 17th century; in the 18th century the castle was expanded to a U-shaped floor plan, incorporating two 15th-century corner towers; these towers carry tent roofs with weathervanes; the eastern corner tower is covered with Dutch bond pantiles, the western one with slates; the gabled roof of the central section is likewise covered with slates on the north side, the remaining adjoining roofs of the composite roof are covered with Dutch bond pantiles; the eastern corner tower is provided with crenellations and a round-arched frieze; to the southeast (added as a wing) an outbuilding of one storey, dating from circa 1900; a wing of two storeys added to the southwest in the 16th century; the western corner tower was heightened in the 16th century.

Inner façades on the south side of the U-shaped section: the southeast wing does not meet the corner of the central section, but is placed somewhat to the west; the southeast wing is entirely plastered with strip doors on left and right; the spout gable at the end of the southeast wing is blind except for a cross window under the roof; the southeast wing has at its northern end a roof ridge covered with pantiles; the southwest wing consists of two sections of two storeys with ornamental wall anchors under a continuous gabled roof; between both sections a natural stone corner chain; to the right of this a section with speckled coursing and natural stone plinth; on the ground floor there is a blocked opening with a modern window, on the upper floor an Empire sash window (2x4); in the leftmost section of this façade a small door framed by natural stone blocks; spout gable at the end of the southwest wing blind except for a cross window on the upper floor; old large stone applied there, cut joints, glazed headers; inner façade main wing centrally an 18th-century entrance section with double glass door and fanlight with spoke-pattern filling; left and right beside the entrance brick-laid pilasters with capitals; above the entrance an Empire window (2x4), on each side a similar window on the upper floor (with roll moulding on the top edge); on the ground floor right and left, directly beneath the upper floor windows, Empire windows with curved stretching moulding; between the Empire windows four smaller casement windows with curved stretching moulding; masonry up to and including the parapet consists of cloister bond bricks, above that small fine 18th-century brick; to the right of the southeast wing (which as mentioned above is placed somewhat out of the corner) both on the ground floor and on the upper floor a segmental spared field; on the roof surface at the far right, a roof dormer. Between the southeast and southwest wings in front of the moat still remnants of vaults and masonry in old large stone with 20th-century additions for protection against weather. The outer façade of the southeast wing consists of two sections; the first section presumably dates from the 18th century, has two storeys, a small (added) window in the first storey and an originally set in natural stone window in the second storey; adjacent to this two Empire sash windows one above the other (2x3). Adjoining a section presumably dating from 1900 of one storey with three large windows and one small window. In the outer façade 16th-century southwest wing six window bays with Empire sash windows (2x4); on the roof surface one roof dormer; between tower and southwest façade a rectangular extension over two storeys with three pane patterns one above the other of glazed brick. North façades and towers of the main building: eastern tower is the lowest, more or less round, and covered with pantiles, weathervane with coat of arms, tower is provided with crenellations and round-arched frieze, has there two sash windows (2x3) one above the other; western tower is higher, the tower is provided with a round-arched frieze, which is located at a height somewhat lower than the ridge of the central section, a natural stone moulding and an octagonal structure with clock face on the forecourt side; natural stone gun-loops, masonry on the corners alternating brick and natural stone, natural stone bases and capitals; on the weathervane a heron with a twig in its beak; in the octagonal section on four sides small segmental windows with glazing bars and on the roof rectangular roof dormers with cross windows; in the tower cloister windows framed with natural stone blocks and natural stone sills; also small window under roof edge, natural stone ventilation openings (two per side); the central section consists of a raised brick entrance section, which projects above the roof, is projecting, and below has flat brick pilasters on natural stone profiled corbels, above these round-moulded corner columns (with speckled coursing); natural stone horizontal profiled moulding, two natural stone vase-shaped ornaments on the top, to the left of the top a brick chimney; on the roof surface two segmental roof dormers (18th century) with cross window; in the projection a wooden double panelled door with spoke-pattern filling in the fanlight; above this an Empire sash window (segmental) and a window with cross pattern above; in the both façade fields between the towers and raised entrance section two window bays with Empire sash windows (2x4); the façade field on the right side contains between the projection and the tower speckled coursing, on the ground floor three segmental Empire windows (2x4), on the upper floor two windows (2x4), at the top several masonry ornaments of natural stone and many glazed headers.

B. INTERIOR: Due to successive use as a children's home and - currently - as a youth hostel many alterations have been made; many building traces which came to light during restoration in the years 1976 are now again concealed beneath plaster layers and ceilings. Central hall paved with square marble tiles; in the eastern section a sober staircase, presumably 19th-century; grooved 17th-century door with fittings; to the left a profiled natural stone door frame with little pilasters and wooden door with old hinges; in the western section a beam ceiling with keystones (current dining room), beams and keystones now painted; in the western tower a restored hearth with natural stone lintel under stretching moulding and tiles in front of the fireplace; domed vault in cellar space; this tower contains a clock mechanism with clock face on the east side (connection missing, this clock mechanism is no longer in use) presumably late 19th-century, and a wooden wind direction indicator plate in an octagonal form. In the back room, which faces south, door frame in presumably late 18th-century stylistic language; doors with reversed mouldings; in the upper corridor southwestern section remnants of an old beam layer with two small keystones; simple wooden staircase in the western section, presumably 19th-century.

To the right of the eastern outbuilding a stone step down to the water of the moat; a brick bridge (partially 20th-century work over an older core) between the forecourt and the castle consists of three arches; between the arches wall reinforcements; on the bridge wrought-iron railings. Between the park and the forecourt a brick dam in the moat; on the dam cast-iron railings, a wrought-iron double gate at the end, and lower wrought-iron gates with volutes on stone footings along the forecourt.