Fort, vesting en -onderdelen, Fort aan de Uppelse Dijk Almkerk

English translation

The text above is the record as published by the Rijksdienst voor het Cultureel Erfgoed, in Dutch. The English below is a machine translation made by TreeAlive, not by the Rijksdienst voor het Cultureel Erfgoed; it has not been checked by a person. Where the two differ, the original is the record. Report a translation error: privacy@treealive.com

Description

Cluster 80.

NEW HOLLAND WATERLINE

Introduction

FORT EARTHWORK WITH GUN EMPLACEMENT POSITIONS AND REMAINS OF ROAD STRUCTURE, WET DITCH WITH OUTER BANKS AND PART OF BYPASS AND MAINTENANCE ROADS AND WITH A ZONE DEMARCATED FROM TIME IMMEMORIAL BY BOUNDARY STONES as basic components of the Fort at Uppelse Dijk / Fort Altena. Forts were typically constructed on the basis of earth structures prepared in advance, which served as a foundation and prevented subsidence in (wet and soft) soil. In the construction of the forts, in addition to this usually already tactically 'pre-shaped' earth structure—which in itself could already fulfil a defensive role—a specific layout was also realised, which was intended to enhance defensive strength, ensure the safety of the garrison, and facilitate internal and external transport and traffic. In this way, among other things, earth coverings were created for various structures to make them less vulnerable to enemy fire, earth ramparts that protected buildings and open areas and determined the contours, as well as paved paths and parade grounds. Forts were usually surrounded by one or more wet or dry ditches to obstruct any approach to the fortification or fort grounds as long as possible. The forts were usually only accessible via one or more bridges or via a narrow isthmus. Where, for reasons of water management or otherwise, a permanent direct connection between interior and exterior existed, it was constructed in such a way as to be difficult or impossible to traverse. Application of so-called chevaux-de-frise, monks and/or palisade works was customary in such cases. On the outside of the ditches there usually ran a road or path with a glacis. Such a road or path could be constructed either in the form of a covered way, or at ground level or even above ground level. These roads or paths could serve various functions, ranging from maintenance path to public road, and from military covered way to exclusive access road to the fort. The access bridge over the ditch has been replaced by a causeway. Outside the ditch there is often a zone (demarcated from time immemorial and still partly so by boundary stones), the so-called Military Crown Land, over which the Ministry of War had authority.

The layout of the Fort at Uppelse Dijk / Fort Altena deviates from the general picture in that its structure and extent were substantially altered and enlarged in the second development phase, and it was further among the few forts provided with an outwork in the form of a battery outside the actual contours; this work has presumably entirely disappeared, but there may still be remains or traces. The original round earthwork of the tower fort was partly retained during the expansion and as such forms a rare relic of such a layout. The public road—in this case a State Road—was constructed on the outer rampart on the west side during the modernisation of the fort. The complex further included a sluice, but this has presumably been removed; remains or traces may still exist. The earth works of the rampart have been partly levelled, but in recent times, especially on the south side, have been restored/reconstructed, with gun emplacement positions also being restored or accentuated. Part of the layout on the west side was lost during the construction of the A 27 motorway and on the east side some damage occurred through the use of the ditch for the construction of a watercourse.

Description

FORT EARTHWORK WITH GUN EMPLACEMENT POSITIONS AND REMAINS OF ROAD STRUCTURE, WET DITCH WITH OUTER BANKS AND PART OF BYPASS AND MAINTENANCE ROADS AND WITH A ZONE DEMARCATED FROM TIME IMMEMORIAL BY BOUNDARY STONES of the Fort at Uppelse Dijk / Fort Altena, consisting mainly of a relatively elongated, not entirely symmetrical earthwork with different levels. Between two half-bastions on the front face, the exterior of which possesses predominantly angular forms, a bent curtain wall, all provided with emplacement positions. The layout and earthworks date mainly from the period 1878-1880, with a remainder from 1847: the layout also comprises the flat, semicircular terrain or parade ground on the gorge side of the fort. The relationship with the field of fire and inundation fields is largely intact thanks in part to the restoration of the ramparts on the front face. The earthings of the bomb-proof buildings on the fort form part of the layout. The fort terrain is partly traversed by a path system, along which the buildings and other components and functions are accessible. Those accessible functions include among others some so-called remises (bomb-proof storage places for guns, ammunition or other materiel). The ditch of the Fort at Uppelse Dijk / Fort Altena is still almost completely present and forms a frame around the earthwork of the fort. Of the public bypass roads, the State Road lies on the western outer bank of the wet ditch and the Uppelse Dijk lies on the east and north-eastern bank. There are also remains of the maintenance path. On the fort there are scattered concrete boxes for sand. The zone originally demarcated with stone boundary stones over which the Ministry of War had authority, the Military Crown Land, is indicated on the map accompanying this document.

Valuation

The FORT EARTHWORK WITH GUN EMPLACEMENT POSITIONS AND REMAINS OF ROAD STRUCTURE, WET DITCH WITH OUTER BANKS AND PART OF BYPASS AND MAINTENANCE ROADS AND WITH A ZONE DEMARCATED FROM TIME IMMEMORIAL BY BOUNDARY STONES of the Fort at Uppelse Dijk / Fort Altena are of general importance by reason of:

* Cultural-historical values as components of the New Holland Waterline as designed by C.R.T. Kraijenhoff and first constructed from 1815 by him, Jan Blanken and Major-Engineer Willem Offerhaus and subsequently strengthened and improved by others over more than 125 years.

* 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 powerful offensive means (19th and 20th century).

The component is an example of an earth layout with road and path system, earth covering for various functions, ditch, bypass and maintenance roads and the like and with a military zone demarcated by means of boundary stones, the whole from the years 1847 and 1878-1880.

* Ensemble value and situational values by reason of its location within the system of the New Holland Waterline in general and in particular in the largely intact and readily recognisable relationship with the field of fire and the inundation fields.

* The component is representative because it shows different phases in the development of access defence on a large scale and in partly intact physical surroundings and in particular that of the application of earth covering.

* The component is well preserved because it shows the system of protection by means of earth covering and the likewise largely unchanged ground plan in a state largely unchanged since circa 1880.