Factorij

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

The block-shaped warehouse De Factorij on the Prins Hendrikkade was built in 1876 as storage space for grain transported from the agricultural lands of the northern regions—such as Franekeradeel, het Bildt and Menaldumadeel—to Franeker. In the decades that followed, the business was expanded by purchasing adjacent enterprises. The firm Steensma traded the stored grain—via samples—at the Korenbeurs (the present Schouwburg). The grain was transported from there to various places throughout the Netherlands. From 1860 onwards, Franeker gradually expanded beyond its moat. In 1863, the railway line Harlingen-Leeuwarden was constructed to the south-east of the city. Because there was no more space in the densely built inner city, large enterprises began to establish themselves in the area between the city moat and the railway line, on the southern side of the moat (Prins Hendrikkade).

Before the Factorij, in 1871 the steam oil factory of Ulbe Twijnstra from Akkrum (now UTD in Akkrum)—currently Rollingswier—was built along the quay. Between 1887 and 1888, the office, the straw shed and a number of other warehouses were built. In 1889, between the Factorij and Rollingswier, the hide-bleaching works was built, which still exists and houses a business. Many of these structures have since been demolished, such as for example Prins Hendrikkade 4, 5, 6, 8 and 9. The economic crisis of the 1880-1890 period caused stagnation in local production: grain was imported from America and Russia, arriving by ship in Harlingen and then transported further inland. The city moat of Franeker connected to the shipping route between Harlingen and Leeuwarden. In 1893, the poorly maintained waterway was improved and the Nieuwe Kanaal was constructed in the south, which in turn connected to the city moat. The grain arriving by ship was stored among other places in the Factorij. In 1910, the owner of the Factorij, the firm T.H. Steensma en Zoon in Franeker, commissioned architect N.J. Adema in Franeker to renovate and enlarge the Factorij. The building was originally a double warehouse.

Nicolaas Adema made it into one large warehouse and added to the building, which had been constructed according to the traditional building forms typical of old warehouses, in particular to the front façade certain architectural elements characteristic of Transitional architecture. He adapted the added fourth storey to the existing design. Regarding the INTERIOR no assessment can be made because it is not accessible: the building has been empty for some time and vandalism has been committed, which is why all windows and doors have been boarded up. According to reports, the internal structure should still be intact.

Description

The yellow-brick warehouse has a rectangular floor plan, is four storeys high and is covered by a truncated hipped roof clad with black, corrugated Frisian tiles with roof lights on three sides. The front façade consists of two symmetrical parts, separated from each other by a projecting chimney with a board; on the corners similarly projecting block-shaped corner pilasters. The straight top is closed off by a balustrade between two pirons with curled iron weathervanes. On the balustrade the name of the warehouse. Left and right below the balustrade two hoisting beams. The front façade is regularly arranged with loading doors beneath slightly arched red-brick lintels with on either side a small window, likewise with slightly arched lintel and drip mouldings of red and yellow brick. Wall anchors (ornamental). In the front façade a foundation stone with the text: 1ST STONE LAID 1 JUNE 1876 BY ROMKE STEENSMA THz.

In the left and right side façades in every storey a series of 12 windows with slightly arched lintels and drip mouldings of yellow brick. In the left side façade on the ground floor right a door opening. Wall anchors (ornamental).

The rear façade is, like the front façade, symmetrically arranged with slightly arched windows with brick lintels and drip mouldings. On the ground floor a door. Wall anchors (ornamental). On the rear façade is painted in large block letters: FRANEKER FACTORIJ.

The INTERIOR was not visited because the building is boarded up. According to oral tradition, it is still largely original: the floors and ceilings of the six-storey building are all still present.

Valuation

The warehouse De Factorij from 1876, renovated in 1910 to its present appearance, is of general cultural-historical and architectural-historical importance:

- as a distinctive expression of socio-economic development;

- as a remarkable example of this type of building in the province of Friesland;

- for the oeuvre of the architect;

- because of the high-quality aesthetic quality of the design for this building type;

- because of the distinctive material use and ornamentation;

- as an essential component of a larger whole that is of national importance from a cultural-historical and socio-economic perspective;

- because of the location, linked to the development and expansion of the city;

- because of the location, linked to socio-economic development within and outside the urban boundaries;

- for the appearance of the region;

- because of the historical-spatial relationship with water/the waterways;

- because of the architectural integrity of the exterior;

- because of the (according to oral communication) architectural integrity of the interior;

- in relation to the structural and visual integrity of the urban environment;

- because of the architectural-historical, typological and functional rarity at provincial level.