Fort, vesting en -onderdelen, Werk aan de Waalse Wetering Tull en 't Waal (Houten 26)

English translation

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Description

Cluster 57. Fortification with earthworks, gun emplacements, moat, roads and military state land.

NEW HOLLANDIC WATERLINE Introduction

FORTIFICATION WITH EARTHWORKS, GUN EMPLACEMENTS, MOAT, ROADS AND MILITARY STATE LAND of the Werk aan de Waalse Wetering as an example of a defensive work constructed from 1875 onwards, largely built on an earthen base. The earthwork is principally approximately letter-D-shaped and laid out according to a virtually symmetrical ground plan, with the axis of symmetry in approximately east-southeast direction. In the northwest, the corner of the fort is set back slightly. The greatest length of the earthwork measures approximately 135 m and the greatest width approximately 75 m. Forts and comparable works were usually constructed on the basis of earthen bodies pre-laid in place, which served as a foundation and were intended to prevent subsidence in (a wet and soft) soil. In the construction of these works, in addition to this usually tactically 'pre-formed' earthen body - which in itself already fulfilled or could fulfill a defensive role - a specific layout was also realised, which was intended to increase defensive strength, ensure the safety of the garrison, and facilitate internal and external transport and traffic. In this way, among other things, earthen coverings for various buildings were created to make them less vulnerable to enemy fire, earthen ramparts that covered buildings and open ground and determined the contours, covered approaches, paved paths and parade grounds were constructed. The earthworks were laid out according to greatly differing ground plans, often with one or more bastions, which could also vary in form. Around the earthen body came - where possible - a wet moat, with usually a (movable) bridge over it - various types exist - which formed part of the road system. Sometimes there existed a fixed bank connection in the form of a causeway. Along the outer side of the moats there often lay a road or path. Such a road could be laid out either in the form of a covered way, but could also lie level with or even above ground level. These roads could serve different functions, ranging from public road to maintenance path and also from military covered way to exclusive access road to the fort. Outside the wet moat there is moreover often found a zone (since ancient times and often still partly) marked with boundary posts as such, over which the Ministry of War had jurisdiction, the Military State Land. The Werk aan de Waalse Wetering does not deviate in principle from this general pattern, but is characterized by the virtually symmetrical ground plan. The layout of the earthwork is still largely intact and has been largely restored, whereby the original silhouette is strikingly present. The earthwork has local provisions to enable climbing. The former access bridge was completely replaced around 2006 by a new one, designed after the original bridge.

Description

FORTIFICATION WITH EARTHWORKS, GUN EMPLACEMENTS, MOAT, ROADS AND MILITARY STATE LAND of the Werk aan de Waalse Wetering. The work came into being in the last period of fort construction in the New Hollandic Waterline as a small closed earthwork with access ramps to the gun emplacements or positions for artillery. The earthwork covers the centrally situated bombproof barracks and the bombproof remise built on top of it. Because the rampart on the front side is also clearly built higher than on the gorge side, the earthworks locally display quite strong relief. The earthwork is entirely covered with grass; possibly in the northern half of the work in the earthworks are remains or traces of concrete ammunition niches. The earthwork is surrounded by a wet moat. This is still completely present and is approximately 25 metres wide on the front side(s) and approximately 12.50 metres on the gorge side. Along the outer side of the moat several sandstone boundary posts that mark the Military State Land. The access road leads across the Military State Land - to the west of the fort-keeper's dwelling - from the Waalsche Wetering to the access bridge, which is situated centrally on the gorge side of the work. The Military State Land falls in principle under the protection.

Valuation

The FORTIFICATION WITH EARTHWORKS, GUN EMPLACEMENTS, MOAT, ROADS AND MILITARY STATE LAND of the Werk aan de Waalse Wetering 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 for approximately 125 years.

* Architectural historical values, in particular as an expression of military-strategic building design, which is based on the system of inundation and access defence (19th century). This concerns a component from the period 1871-1886, namely an earthen layout with moat and represents a late phase in the laying out of forts in the New Hollandic Waterline.

* Ensemble value and situational values as part of the New Hollandic Waterline. Also because of the functional and physical coherence with the remaining components of the complex.

* Archaeological values, because of possible remains or traces of concrete ammunition niches still present in the earthworks.

* The component is a representative example of a defensive work with a limited number of bombproof buildings laid out in two layers and covered with earth from a late period of construction of the New Hollandic Waterline.

* The component is well preserved in 19th-century condition - without 20th-century additions - and can be clearly recognised from near and far in its physical and functional position.