Fort, vesting en -onderdelen, Werk aan de Bakkerskil Nieuwendijk (Altena 30)

English translation

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Description

Cluster 83.

NEW HOLLANDIC WATERLINE

Introduction

FORT COMPLEX AND EARTHWORKS, WET DITCH WITH OUTER BANKS AND REMAINS OF MAINTENANCE ROAD, DIVERSION ROAD AND WITH ZONE MARKED BY BOUNDARY POSTS as basic components of the Work at the Bakkerskil. Forts were usually constructed on the basis of earthworks previously laid down which served as a foundation and prevented subsidence in (a wet and soft) soil. In the construction of the forts, apart from this usually already tactically 'pre-formed' earthwork - which in itself could already fulfil a defensive role - a specific layout was also realised which was intended to increase the 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, earthen ramparts which covered buildings and open areas and determined the contours, and paved paths and parade grounds. Forts were usually surrounded by one or more wet or dry ditches to prevent any approach to the rampart or the fort grounds until the last moment. The forts were usually accessible only via one or more bridges or via a narrow isthmus. Where for water management or other reasons a permanent direct connection between interior and exterior existed, it was executed in such a way that it could not or only with great difficulty be crossed. Use of so-called chevaux-de-frise, monks (especially in fortifications) and / or gates was customary in this regard. Along the outside of the ditches there was often a road or path, which could be laid out both in the form of a covered way, as well as at, or even above ground level. These roads or paths could have 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 ditch there is moreover often a zone (since time immemorial and still in part) marked by boundary posts as such over which the Ministry of War had authority. The Work at the Bakkerskil formed no exception to this principle, but it is characteristic that the layout consists of a symmetrical trapezoid-shaped earthwork, the longest length of which is exactly oriented east-west. The Work at the Bakkerskil was accessible via a bridge over the ditch on the north side, but this was later replaced by a dam. The ramparts were levelled, after which the freed-up land around 1960 was partly built with four sheds. Three of the four sheds were removed in or around 2010, after standing empty and falling into disrepair; only the easternmost was retained. Partial restoration of the ramparts and gun emplacements followed; possibly the missing bridge will also be reconstructed.

Description

The FORT COMPLEX AND EARTHWORKS, WET DITCH WITH OUTER BANKS AND REMAINS OF MAINTENANCE ROAD, DIVERSION ROAD AND WITH ZONE MARKED BY BOUNDARY POSTS as basic components of the Work at the Bakkerskil. Largely due to its location along the three-quarter circuit around the fort of the Schenkeldijk, the layout is relatively well to be surveyed. The Work at the Bakkerskil now consists mainly of a symmetrical, trapezoid-shaped earthwork, the ramparts of which, after being levelled, have been largely reconstructed and of which the outer slope has four straight sides and two blunt and two sharp angles. The fort dates from the period 1877-1880. The fort was built on the west side of the Schenkeldijk at that time, with the road leading three-quarters around the fort on the west side over the old (still recognisable but truncated) dike. The fort is accessible from the north, the gorge side, via a short access road from the bend in the dike. The bridge over the ditch has been replaced by a dam, but possibly a replica of the bridge will be placed. Centrally lies an elongated and articulated, earth-covered, bombproof structure, which served as accommodation for personnel and materials, the barracks / storage buildings. The ditch of the Work at the Bakkerskil is still completely present; around the ditch lie on the west and north sides the diversion road (Schenkeldijk) and on the east side the clearly recognisable maintenance path, partly on the (old) Schenkeldijk. The zone originally marked by boundary posts as such over which the Ministry of War had authority, the Military Crown Land, is indicated on the map attached to this document.

Valuation of complex

The FORT COMPLEX AND EARTHWORKS, WET DITCH WITH OUTER BANKS AND REMAINS OF MAINTENANCE ROAD, DIVERSION ROAD AND WITH ZONE MARKED BY BOUNDARY POSTS of the Work at the Bakkerskil is of general importance because of:

* Cultural historical values as part of the New Hollandic Waterline as designed by C.R.T. Kraijenhoff and initially realised 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 craft, which is based on: a. the system of inundation and access defence (19th century), b. the race with increasingly strengthened offensive means (19th century).

The component is an example of an earthen layout with ditching, diversion road and military zone marked by means of boundary posts and it contains an articulated earth covering above an elongated, bombproof structure with various functions, all from the period 1877-1880.

* Ensemble value and situational values through the location within the system of the New Hollandic Waterline in general and through the recognisable relationship with the field of fire and the nearby inundation sluice in particular.

* The component is representative because it - despite, but in part also thanks to partial reconstruction - is a clear and intelligible example of a fort that served as access defence to a dike and as defence of inundation works.

* The component is reasonably well preserved because the ground plan, the banking of the bombproof barracks building, the ditch, the diversion road and the maintenance path have been almost completely preserved, while the partial reconstruction of the rampart contributed to the general interest because of increased understanding of the system of access defence.