Fort, vesting en -onderdelen, Fort Uitermeer Weesp (Amsterdam 27)

English translation

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Description

Cluster 4. Sluice lock hoisting bridge.

NEW HOLLANDIC WATERLINE

Introduction

SLUICE LOCK and HOISTING BRIDGE as military-strategic and civil hydraulic engineering artefacts at Fort Uitermeer. Fort Uitermeer had traditionally served the function of defending the sluice lock in the 's-Gravelandsche Vaart, the waterway that connects Hilversum with the river Vecht. The defence system of the New Hollandic Waterline was primarily based on the controlled inundation of (large) land areas. By means of an ingenious system of sluice locks, siphons, dams, lock gates, dike breaches, and so forth, the necessary water level could be quickly set and maintained within narrow limits. In part, existing civil hydraulic engineering structures were used for this purpose. Sometimes the works were (substantially) adapted to military requirements. A large part of the works was specially built for the New Hollandic Waterline.

When the already existing Uitermeerse Schans was rebuilt in the 17th century as the bastioned Fort Uitermeer, the primary purpose was the defence of the sluice lock built within the fort with inundation function. This function continued to exist in the first decades of the New Hollandic Waterline, even after the tower was built. In 1878 the old lock was demolished and a new sluice lock was constructed on the north-eastern side outside the fort. The 's-Gravelandsche Vaart was redirected outside the fort. The lock had a civil function to enable passage from the Vecht to Hilversum and the Loosdrechtse Plassen (and vice versa), but also a military function as an inundation lock. Via the lock, water from the (Lower) Vecht could be pumped over to the 's-Gravelandsche Vaart and from there into the inundation areas to the south and north of it. The 's-Gravelandsche Vaart is furthermore connected to the Karnemelksloot and ultimately to the city moat of the fortress Naarden. Over the lock, an iron swing bridge was also constructed in 1878. This bridge suffered serious damage in 1945 when the lock gates were blown up. The swing bridge was replaced in 1947 by the hoisting bridge that now spans the lock, which came to this location in 1947 from the Krimpenerwaard, where it - south-west of Gouda - lay over the Stolwijkersluis. The bridge there had a civil purpose as part of the road over the southern dyke of the Hollandsche IJssel and was part of a set of four identical bridges over the Goudsche Vliet in the Krimpenerwaard.

The raising, swinging open or removal / destruction of bridges has been a proven method since antiquity to ward off intruders. Not only did this obstruct or delay passage or crossing over a watercourse, a dry or wet moat or a terrain depression, but an attacker also had to provide the means to overcome the barrier themselves. Wooden bridges were relatively quick to destroy, if necessary by setting them on fire. Stone and concrete bridges required a larger and more time-consuming operation, though an explosive charge could sometimes quickly produce the desired effect. With the arrival of iron bridges - applied on a large scale in the course of the 19th century in many different variants - the second option remained, but the first disappeared. The blowing up of bridges was capital destruction and happened only in the utmost necessity. One way in which iron bridges could be closed was by removing or making inaccessible (small) parts of them - or, as here - by swinging them open. Swinging open was also necessary for passage of (excessively tall) vessels.

Description

SLUICE LOCK from 1878 in the 's-Gravelandsche Vaart. The lock consists of a single lock chamber with masonry brick sluice walls and double, hardwood pointed gates on both sides. The lock measures approximately 40 x 5 m including the head structures. The sluice walls are provided with hardstone quoins at the location of the bollards and other elements that require additional structural reinforcement. Just before the eastern lock gates, a double row of stop plank sockets has been installed. These are of importance for the military function of the lock, because wooden (stop) planks could be inserted here to dam up, release or hold back water for the purposes of inundation. On the eastern side of the lock chamber, behind the eastern gates, wrought iron hoisting equipment with sluice gates and a small walkway bridge have been added. HOISTING BRIDGE from 1888 over the sluice lock in the 's-Gravelandsche Vaart. The bridge lies approximately in the middle over the lock chamber at the location of an earlier iron swing bridge. The cast iron hoisting bridge came in 1947 from the Stolwijkersluis near Gouda, where it was part of a series of four identical examples. The decorative gate carries the date 1888. On the northern column is the inscription 'Yzergieterij De Prins van Oranje 's-Hage 1888' (The Hague). The gate is not on the fort side, but on the north side of the waterway and is there anchored with twice two diagonal struts. Iron railings on either side and asphalted wooden roadway.

Appraisal

The SLUICE LOCK and HOISTING BRIDGE from 1878 and 1888 are of general interest because of:

* Cultural-historical values as part of the New Hollandic Waterline as designed by C.R.T. Kraijenhoff and first laid out from 1815 by him, Jan Blanken and major-engineer Willem Offerhaus and subsequently strengthened and improved by others over approximately 125 years.

* Architectural-historical values in particular as an expression of military-strategic building construction, which is based on the system of inundation and access defence (19th century). The component is an example of an expression of historical hydraulic engineering related to military-strategic building construction serving as a civil sluice lock with a military function as an inundation lock and also as an expression of civil hydraulic engineering, also because of the typological and historical relationship with the still existing bridges over the Goudsche Vliet in the Krimpenerwaard.

* Ensemble value and situational values as part of the New Hollandic Waterline. Also because of the functional and physical coherence with the other components of the complex and in particular the fort, lock and bridge keeper's residence and the nearby swing bridge which (except for the first) also date from 1878.

* The components are characteristic because Fort Uitermeer had traditionally served the function of defending a sluice lock, which initially lay within the fort moat. In 1878 the present new lock was built, which was also defended from the fort.

* The components are reasonably well preserved because the authentic lock, as well as the bridge - through integral relocation of it - has been largely preserved.

Introduction

East of Fort Uitermeer and the sluice lock, a FORT, LOCK and BRIDGE KEEPER'S RESIDENCE. Because most forts and other (located outside the built-up area) defence works - when there was no mobilisation or exercises - had no occupancy with military personnel, in many cases there was a separate dwelling or other accommodation for a manager or watchman. Sometimes such a dwelling or accommodation also had another function, such as that of a lock keeper's or bridge keeper's residence. In the architectural style applied, there is consequently no uniformity; the building materials used vary, but are usually brick or wood and the number of storeys also differs. Also with regard to the location of a keeper's residence, no clear standards exist; some fort keeper's residences lie within the fort moat, others outside it - sometimes even at some distance from the fort. The residence at Fort Uitermeer is situated north of the lock in the 's-Gravenlandsche Vaart and thus lies outside the moat. The lock dates from 1878 and was built here as a replacement for an older lock that lay within the fort moat. One of the functions of the fort was traditionally the defence of the lock within the fort and from 1878 of the lock outside the fort. The fort, lock and bridge keeper's residence dates from the same period as the sluice lock. The hoisting bridge dates from 1888, but is a successor placed in 1947 to an equally 1878-dated swing bridge. Closer to the Vecht there is still a swing bridge from that same year. Around 1935 there was a proposal to purchase additional land near the nearby casemates to lay out an orchard and vegetable garden and build a few sheds next to the lock keeper's residence. This was to give the whole the appearance of a small farmhouse. However, this was not carried through.

Description

Late 19th-century and presumably dating from 1878 or shortly thereafter FORT, LOCK and BRIDGE KEEPER'S RESIDENCE with classicist stylistic features, which is one storey high and built in hand-formed brick. Above the cornice there is a hipped roof, covered with smoked old-Dutch tiles. The front facade and side facades have large whitewashed reveals, provided with false joints and stepped corners. The windows and doors are placed in deeper niches. The facades are symmetrically arranged. The windows and doors are largely original, at least as far as the frames are concerned, which are all arched. The facade on the lock side is provided with a projecting central section and a roof house with a gabled roof and a herringbone-arched window.

Appraisal

The FORT, LOCK and BRIDGE KEEPER'S RESIDENCE (late 19th century, in all probability 1878) is of general interest because of:

* Cultural-historical values as part of the New Hollandic Waterline as designed by C.R.T. Kraijenhoff and first laid out from 1815 by him, Jan Blanken and major-engineer Willem Offerhaus and subsequently strengthened and improved by others over approximately 125 years.

* Architectural-historical values in particular as an expression of military-strategic building construction, which is based on the system of inundation and access defence (19th century).

The component is an example of a fort, lock and bridge keeper's residence belonging to the fort, the lock and the two bridges and with a civil-military function.

* Ensemble value and situational values as part of the New Hollandic Waterline. Also because of the functional and physical coherence with the other components of the complex and in particular with the sluice lock.

* The component is characteristic because it forms a whole with the sluice lock, dates from the same building period and in terms of building mass, material use and detailing is a recognisable example of dwellings with such a function from this period.

* The component is reasonably well preserved because the main structure and various details have been preserved.