Kerkhof, Dorpsstraat bij 5

English translation

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Description

CHURCHYARD with GRAVE MONUMENTS and WALL, belonging to the already protected Reformed church at Gasselte.

Introduction

The ecclesiastical ensemble is situated at the edge of the early medieval esdorp Gasselte. As a result of centuries-long burial activities, church and churchyard lie higher than their immediate surroundings. The churchyard is believed to have been in use from the year 800 onwards. In 1924 the last burial took place (the new municipal burial ground opened in 1923) and in 1977 the last interment. According to information, the churchyard would originally have been oriented more westerly and only from the 19th century onwards was expanded on the east side.

Description

The CHURCHYARD consists mainly of grassland on which, primarily on the east and south sides of the church, around a hundred grave monuments are still preserved. On the north side of the church, where the less well-to-do were buried, no monuments are any longer to be found. This section now serves as a scattering field. On the west side the churchyard is screened from its surroundings by a low WALL of cloister bricks with rounded-off rolled edge; otherwise the site enclosure consists of a distinctive beech hedge. On the churchyard itself there are no trees or shrubs. A gravel path runs around the church; the remaining paths have disappeared or are hidden from view by the grass.

GRAVE MONUMENTS. The appearance of the burial ground is determined mainly by standing grave monuments of stone or cement stone, of which several have been painted over entirely to imitate natural stone. Some have a decorative topping of marble. On the south side of the churchyard most of the lying monuments (grave slabs) are to be found. Some of these have (still) a simple iron grave fence with in some cases a marble text board. The oldest grave monuments date from the second quarter of the 19th century; the youngest are sometimes fairly recent replacements of older examples. The funerary symbolism applied is varied and diverse and sometimes recalls that on the Groningen churchyards. Of the disappeared monuments, presumed to be a great number were of wood. Only one standing wooden monument (stele) has been preserved and has since been restored.

Valuation

CHURCHYARD, GRAVE MONUMENTS and WALL are of general importance:

- on account of their age;

- on account of the origins and usage history of the site;

- on account of their architectural, genealogical and/or funerary-historical value;

- on account of the functional and visual relationship between the various elements and their relationship with the likewise protected church;

- on account of the presence of grave monuments characteristic of the time of origin with matching symbolism;

- on account of the special location against the Gasselter es.