Huis Vorden

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

Description

MAIN BUILDING (Huis Vorden). The present Huis Vorden was built in the first half of the 16th century on a site where a fortified house must have stood since at least 1315. The oldest part of the building is constructed from 'cloister bricks', the extension on the south side of the western façade is largely executed in Flemish bond. The whole with plastered, ribless vaulted undercellared and moated main building has an L-shaped floor plan with two storeys and an attic under a hipped roof covered with masked Dutch tiles, running round the entire building. On the roof ridges and at the intersection of both wings stands a chimney. In the corner formed by both wings there is on the inner courtyard (southeast) an octagonal stair tower and on the moat side (northwest) a square tower. The square tower has a stepped gable on the north side and a shouldered gable on the south side provided with five pinnacles. On the inner courtyard side the façades of both wings are provided with cross windows with half shutters crowned by a double shell motif. This shell motif is a recurring element above virtually all windows in the building. In the north wing, on the inner courtyard side further adjoining the tower a doorway with elliptical fanlight, accessible via a stone staircase. Centrally in both wings there is furthermore a door to the basement.

On the moat side the north wing is provided with a central entrance arrangement with elliptical fanlight, flanked by multi-light sash windows in Empire style. The entrance arrangement is preceded by a stone staircase and a high brick landing, which is supported by a construction of round arches and pillars. In conjunction with the staircase and landing a bridge over the moat. This entrance came into being after alterations in 1875, when a new hall was created, at the expense of part of the knights' hall. The bridge over the moat dates from after 1949. It replaces an older bridge and is of subordinate importance for the protection. Further in the north façade cross windows on the storey and at the basement level loopholes.

In the west façade on the moat side high cross windows with jalousies on the ground floor and storey and bulge windows without shutter at basement level. In the end façades of both wings high cloister windows with half shutters. The octagonal tower on the inner courtyard is covered by a constricted tent roof covered with slate and crowned with a gilded ball and weather vane. The façades of the tower are provided with different types of small windows with and without shutters. A central doorway has been inserted which is virtually identical to the door in the north façade. Both doors are furthermore placed at equal height and accessible via the same landing. The square tower on the moat side is closed off by a gabled roof covered with masked Dutch tiles. In the façades cloister windows in different sizes and loopholes at basement level.

The 19th-century finishing of the castle dates almost entirely from 1874. In that year the castle was substantially rebuilt and modernised by the then owner Paulus Anthony baron van der Borch tot Verwolde. Considerable attention was paid to residential comfort. The vast majority of the rooms in the castle were fitted with an entirely new interior during this renovation, with doors, panelling, stucco and coffered ceilings, shutters, chimneypieces and parquet flooring all coordinated with one another. Above the external doors in the hall, oval, stained-glass windows set in leaded glass have been installed, bearing the alliance coats of arms of the Van der Borch-Van Nagel family, from 1873. This late 19th-century finishing has been preserved in virtually pristine condition ever since and adorns the rooms of the castle to this day.

The floor plan and layout have also been scarcely altered since this late 19th-century renovation. In addition to finishings from the late 19th century, interior elements from the 16th and 17th centuries have also been well preserved. In the tower at the inner corner of the castle there is a presumed 16th-century sandstone spiral staircase, the newel of which displays fine carved Gothic and Renaissance motifs, and on the first storey there is a wooden wall, painted with an architectural construction of two round arches on square piers, above which colourful garlands composed of vegetables and fruit are depicted. Additionally, there are chimneypieces with Renaissance motifs, the modest models in the basement and in one of the tower rooms presumed to be 17th-century. The imposing chimneypiece in the knights' hall was relocated in the 19th century and consists in part of 17th-century components. The oak coffered ceiling present in the former knights' hall and its accompanying panelling presumed date from the 1875 renovation.

Further features include three water wells in the basement and one water well outside. During restoration in 1977-'78, the foundation remains of a small round turret and a section of continuous walling (from the 14th century) were found on the inner courtyard and later made visible in the paving.

Valuation

The MAIN BUILDING (Huis Vorden) as part of the historic country estate 'Vorden' is of general importance:

- on account of its age;

- on account of its developmental history and the architectural design arising from it;

- as a representative example of a chiefly 16th-century knightly house, whose floor plan and layout have been scarcely altered since the last decades of the 19th century and which contains interior finishings from various periods, ranging from the time of construction to the 19th century;

- on account of its characteristic position within the park layout;

- on account of the functional-spatial relationship with the other components of the country estate;

- as a distinctive architectural element with particular cultural-historical value in the municipality of Bronckhorst.