Bijgebouwen, Fort bij Asperen Acquoy (West Betuwe 25)

English translation

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Description

Cluster 67.

NEW HOLLANDIC WATER LINE

Introduction

COUNTERSCARP, CONTAINING REMISE, GUNPOWDER AND PROJECTILE MAGAZINE AND FILLING STATION as part of a small fortification reinforced with earthworks built around the middle of the 19th century for the defence of inundation works and of the river access of the Linge. When in the 1860s and 1870s of the 19th century the power and accuracy of artillery increased, in particular the towers of the forts were soon no longer able to withstand the force. 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. Besides this, in a number of cases countescarps or counterscarps galleries were partly constructed around the towers. At the Fort at Asperen, an earth talus or counterscarP was placed against the east side of the tower. Such a counterscarP consists of a heavy, metres-high ground covering, which served as protection against enemy artillery fire and made the towers 'shellproof' again. The application of earth coverings proved to be a good means of absorbing or dampening the energy. This is the reason why many masonry or concrete structures were provided with an earth layer or a front protection of sand or earth. Depending on the period of construction - and thus the expected impact force of projectiles - buildings were referred to as shellproof when they were deemed capable of withstanding a predetermined number of impacts from heavy calibre. Often functional spaces were left spare in the countescarps.

Description

COUNTERSCARP, CONTAINING REMISE, GUNPOWDER AND PROJECTILE MAGAZINE AND FILLING STATION as an extension of the Fort at Asperen, executed around the years 1879-1880. The counterscarP of the Fort at Asperen lies, running approximately half-way around, against the east side of the tower and is approximately 15 m wide at the base. On the outside the counterscarP is covered by an approximately six-metre-thick, sloping earth layer. The more or less rectangular trapezoidal profile of the counterscarP can be clearly recognized in the two brick, header gables or retaining walls of the earthworks. In the gables arched entrances have been made to the functional spaces behind. Above the entrance in the left part a keystone with the year 1880. The counterscarP contains remises with below them gunpowder and projectile magazines and a filling station.

Valuation

COUNTERSCARP, CONTAINING REMISE, GUNPOWDER AND PROJECTILE MAGAZINE AND FILLING STATION 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 initially realized 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 architecture, which is based on: a. the system of inundation and access defence (19th century), b. the race with increasingly powerful offensive weapons (19th century).

This concerns a component from approximately 1880, namely an example of a counterscarP at a tower on a fort.

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

* The component is rare and representative because not many countescarps against towers on forts have been built and preserved.

* The component is well preserved because numerous characteristic features in exterior and interior have remained and are recognizable.