Begraafplaats, Dorpsstraat tegenover 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

Introduction

Private CEMETERY from 1874, principal component of the Oost-Knollendam cemetery complex. According to old views, there formerly stood a wooden building in the middle rear of the cemetery that presumably served as storage. The iron access gate dating from the time of construction is flanked by masonry storage spaces from 1930. The annual report for 1930 included in the minutes book of the association mentions the following among other things: "in May the board unanimously decided to rebuild the Gate entrance in such a way that on either side a storage place could be utilised so that if necessary the rear storage places could be discontinued ..." The new storage buildings were designed by M. Vries. The masonry work was carried out by Jb. Stam, the carpentry by G. Ouweltjes. During renovation in 1996 the cemetery was raised somewhat (approximately 40 cm) after which the gravestones were returned to their original location.

Description

Cemetery with access gate, consisting of a raised rectangular plot (approximately 15 x 25 m) that projects almost 1 metre above the surrounding polder landscape and is surrounded by ditches. The cemetery is accessible from the Dorpsstraat via a causeway on which an access gate 2.60 m wide is mounted. This arched double bar gate is executed in wrought iron, embellished with (3) cast iron pinecones and likewise peaks in the form of a French fleur-de-lis, and hung on gate posts 2.15 m high made of cast iron in the form of a fluted candelabra column with an octagonal base and a Corinthian capital crowned by a pinecone. Directly above the latter the gate posts are connected by a curved wrought iron bar on which is mounted a cast iron relief of a skull and two crossed crossbones. The total height of the gate (including skull) is 2.70 m. The access gate is flanked by heavy brick gate pillars, which are not solid but function as storage spaces. The pillars have a square ground plan of 1.50 m and a height of 3.00 m measured from the concrete footing (0.90 m high). The two storage spaces are built in reddish-brown machine-made brick (approximately 19 x 5 cm format) in half-brick bond with somewhat recessed mortar joints. The masonry work is enlivened by several recessed brick courses which create a division of horizontal bands. On the four corners of the more strongly projecting and wider upper band rest concrete spheres which support a heavy concrete coping slab. The recessed masonry between the upper band and the coping slab is executed vertically. On the rear side (E) of both storage spaces is a hinged door made of narrow cladding boards fitted with a wooden handle and a narrow iron ventilation grille. Inside, the storage spaces have a wooden floor and cemented walls.

Beyond the access gate the cemetery is divided in two by a central path. The graves are regularly arranged on either side of this central path in eight rows of six graves which, like the cemetery itself, are oriented east-west. The modest gravestones, dating from various periods, are mostly upright stones of sandstone with a sandstone band round the grave and the gravestone inscription facing the Dorpsstraat. Behind all graves stands a low rectangular post of sandstone with the grave number carved into the sloping upper side. The oldest gravestone (no. 14 on the right) is of Wijbrand Groot, the donor of the land for the cemetery. This rectangular sandstone gravestone measures 2.00 by 0.70 m and has the inscription "WIJBRAND GROOT Pz./ BORN: 14 MAY 1797/ DIED: 4 NOV: 1877." At the bottom of the stone is the following text: "By him the land, on which/ he now rests, was ceded to/ public cemetery./ 6 August 1874."

The windbreak belt round the cemetery is still partially present (currently two elders on the right front and six poplars at the rear). On the left at the entrance stands a distinctive weeping beech.

Valuation

The cemetery from 1874 with access gate is of general importance from a cultural-historical perspective as a historical-functional principal component of the Oost-Knollendam cemetery complex.