Smalspoortunnel

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

Middle NARROW-GAUGE VIADUCT and TUNNEL, crossed by a fairly winding, underpassing ACCESS PATH. Originally, the narrow-gauge track of ceramic ware manufacturer Alfred Russel ran over the viaduct. Initially, various other local tile makers transported their clay by cart over the fairly straight access path. The viaduct dates from 1923. It was built on the orders of Alfred Russel, probably to replace an older small viaduct, and constructed in a traditional craft-like manner. On the west side, there is a secondary top edge in granite.

Description

The NARROW-GAUGE VIADUCT and TUNNEL is constructed in dark red brick and laid in header bond. Centrally, an almost semicircular tunnel opening. One-and-a-half-brick segmental arch, accentuated by a brick voussoir arch. On the east side centrally above the arch, four yellow clay tiles set in mortar, on which the year "1923" is inscribed in black numerals. Above this, over the full length, a slightly projecting brick drip moulding. The top edge is finished with a roll moulding with rounded ends.

Valuation

The NARROW-GAUGE VIADUCT and TUNNEL with the ACCESS PATH crossing underneath is of general importance. The object has great cultural-historical values. It is important as a distinctive expression of the socio-economic developments in the North Limburgian coarse ceramic industry in the early twentieth century, of which Tegelen was the centre. Given the importance attached by this industry to the supply of raw materials – and thereby to transport possibilities – the object is also important as an expression of a landscape development. In addition, the object is important because of its pioneering character. The construction of a narrow-gauge network with all its associated artefacts was an innovative technical development that illustrates the first mechanisation in the coarse ceramic industry. The object possesses, together with the other narrow-gauge viaducts, ensemble values because of the characteristic urban planning setting between the former, nearby clay pits and the ceramic ware factories on the Kaldenkerkerweg, which especially in connection with developments in the coarse ceramic industry became built-up at the end of the nineteenth and the beginning of the twentieth century. The object represents a great industrial-archaeological and typological rarity value. It forms part of the only example of narrow-gauge viaducts/tunnels in the Netherlands preserved as a complex ensemble.