Bijgebouwen, Lekdijk 60

English translation

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Description

Cluster 61. Fort Commander's Dwelling.

NEW HOLLANDIC WATER LINE

Introduction

FORT COMMANDER'S DWELLING located at the gorge side of the southwestern bastion of the fort as a military service building. Because most forts and other defence works (situated outside built-up areas) - when not being mobilized or used for exercises - had no garrison of military personnel, in many cases there was a separate dwelling or other accommodation for a caretaker or watchman. Sometimes such a dwelling also had another function, such as that of a lock or bridge keeper's dwelling. Regarding the location of a watchman's dwelling there is no clear standard, occurring both inside and outside the actual fort, but usually at its gorge side. The form was not standard and the building materials used also vary, but these usually consist of brick and/or wood. The fort commander's dwelling of Fort Honswijk is situated within the moat of the fort. The window openings are predominantly fitted with relatively modern plastic frames. An extension against the southeastern side has no monumental significance.

Description

The FORT COMMANDER'S DWELLING (1878) of Fort Honswijk is located at the gorge side of the southwestern bastion. The dwelling, built on a rectangular plan, comprises one storey beneath a gabled roof covered with dampened hollow tiles. The gutters rest on chamfered stone blocks. On the ridge two chimneys with decorative brickwork. Façades above the slightly projecting travertine plinth executed in grey brick and enlivened on the long sides with bands of yellow brick at the height of upper and lower sills. Several original windows with voussoirs and decorative brickwork. In relieving arches abutment and closing stones. In the rear façade (southwestern side) six window bays. The gable walls are executed as stepped gables with protruding pinnacles at the apex on natural stone corbels; gable walls are provided with ornamental wall anchors with scrollwork. This detailing occurs only rarely in structures forming part of the New Hollandic Water Line and therefore represents rarity values.

Valuation

The FORT COMMANDER'S DWELLING at Fort Honswijk is of general importance because of:

* Cultural-historical values as part of the New Hollandic Water Line as designed by C.R.T. Kraijenhoff and realized in its initial phase 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 built structures related to military-strategic engineering, based on: a. the system of inundation and access defence (19th century), b. the race against strengthening offensive capabilities (19th century).

This concerns a component from the period 1871-1886, namely a fort commander's dwelling from 1878, which was created as a result of the modernization of the fort.

* Ensemble values and situational values as part of the New Hollandic Water Line. Also because of the functional and physical relationship with the other components of the complex and because of the characteristic location at the gorge side of the fort.

* The component is representative because it is an example of a watchman's dwelling installed at a defence work; the component represents rarity value because of both gable walls executed as stepped gables.

* The component is reasonably well preserved because main form and structural detailing, as well as various components - but not all windows in original form - have remained intact.