Fort, vesting en -onderdelen, Fort Honswijk Schalkwijk (Houten 26)

English translation

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Description

Cluster 61. Counterscarp gallery (K) with postern and shed (L).

NEW DUTCH WATERLINE

Introduction

COUNTERSCARP GALLERY (K) WITH POSTERN AND SHED (L) as a semicircular structure erected around the bombproof tower, which on the outer side is covered with an earth layer, which has the function of protecting the tower and the gallery building and the postern itself against impacts of projectiles. When in the 1860s and 1870s of the 19th century the power and accuracy of artillery increased, in particular the towers on forts were soon no longer able to withstand the violence. Two solutions were applied: the height of a number of towers was reduced, which made them not only less visible as a target but also less vulnerable. In addition, in a number of cases earth coverings or counterscarps were partially built around the towers. Both types of adaptations took place at Fort Honswijk. Such a counterscarp consists of a heavy, metres-thick earth covering, which served as protection against enemy artillery fire and which made the towers bombproof again. Counterscarps and counterscarp galleries at towers are quite rare. Usually a counterscarp (glacis) was located close to or against the tower. If it was located close by, it was usually separated from it by a (partly) circular corridor and an earth-covered gallery building, the counterscarp gallery. A counterscarp gallery is thus earth-filled on the outer side and on the tower side provided with a (brick) facade following the shape of the tower. A postern is a covered or protected passage or sally-way; a shed is a bombproof storage for equipment.

Description

In the years 1881-1885 adaptation and expansion of Fort Honswijk with a COUNTERSCARP GALLERY (K) and attached SHED (L) took place. The counterscarp gallery of Fort Honswijk lies, approximately semicircular, on the east side of the bombproof tower, at a distance of approximately 4 m from it. The vertical, brick facade, which is approximately as high as that of the lowered tower itself, is on the inside at ground level and the storey provided with access and/or other facade openings, which can be closed by means of wooden doors and/or later iron shutters. At ground level closed relieving arches are incorporated in the masonry. During construction several iron arches were placed between the tower and counterscarp gallery as spacers. On the outer side the counterscarp gallery is covered by a metres-thick, gently sloping earth layer. The more or less rectangular trapezoidal profile of the counterscarp gallery can be clearly recognised at the two brick, header facades. In these facades too, facade openings have been made at two levels, which are partly closable with iron, partly with wooden doors or windows. The interior, which is virtually in original condition, consists of a series of 20 interconnected rooms, which are separated from each other by heavy wooden doors. There are, amongst other things, sleeping quarters, privies and various stores.

Via the POSTERN or corridor under the earth covering on the northeast side of the counterscarp through and with a mortared, lockable entrance on the east side the meanwhile demolished large intake and inundation sluice on that side of the fort was accessible from the counterscarp gallery; a branch of the postern leads to the bombproof building / shed G.

The SHED L is attached to the south side of the counterscarp gallery and is constructed in brick concrete.

Valuation

The COUNTERSCARP GALLERY (K) WITH POSTERN AND SHED (L) of Fort Honswijk is of general interest because of:

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

* Architectural-historical values, in particular as an expression of military-strategic building, which is based on: a. the system of inundation and access defence (19th century), b. the race with increasingly strengthened offensive means (19th century).

This concerns a component from the period 1881-1885, namely an example of a later added protection of a tower in the form of a counterscarp gallery, also provided with a postern and an attached shed.

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

* The component is quite rare and highly representative because not many counterscarp galleries were built at bombproof towers and because it is a good example of the application of counterscarp galleries in combination with a postern and an attached shed.

* The component is well preserved because numerous characteristic components have been retained and remain recognisable in exterior and interior.