Open verdedigingswerk, Lunet IV Utrecht

English translation

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Description

Cluster 47. Bridge.

NEW HOLLANDIC WATERLINE

Introduction

BRIDGE, built as part of the Houtensepad and located north of Lunet IV - between Lunet III and Lunet IV - as a bank connection across the inundation canal. The bridge is presumed to date originally from the end of the third quarter of the 19th century, but the work was substantially restored / reconstructed in 2010/2011, with only partially authentic components applied. The raising or removal / destruction of bridges has been a proven method of repelling invaders since antiquity. Not only was passage or crossing over a watercourse, a dry or wet ditch or terrain depression thus obstructed or delayed, but an attacker also had to provide means to overcome the barrier if necessary. Wooden bridges were relatively quick to destroy, if necessary by setting them alight. Stone and concrete bridges required a larger and more time-consuming intervention, although an explosive charge could sometimes quickly achieve the desired effect. With the advent of iron bridges - applied on a large scale in many variants during the course of the 19th century - the second possibility remained, but the first disappeared. Blowing up bridges was capital destruction and only happened in the utmost necessity. One way in which iron bridges could be closed was by removing or making inaccessible (small) parts of them. The bridge in its current form is a fixed bridge, but during restoration / reconstruction the previously removable middle section was emphasized in the form of stylized 'iron rope work'.

Description

Largely reconstructed BRIDGE in the Houtensepad across the inundation canal north of Lunet IV (c. 20 x 4 m), consisting of a wooden bridge deck on two masonry piers and with natural stone finished abutments on both sides. Iron railings with welded, mainly cross-braced connections between a total of 2 x 21 posts along both originally fixed bridge sections; midway (and including) a (formerly) removable segment, emphasized with imitation chains.

Valuation

The BRIDGE in the Houtensepad across the inundation canal north of Lunet IV 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 constructed from 1815 by him, Jan Blanken and Major-Engineer Willem Offerhaus and subsequently strengthened and improved by others for approximately 125 years.

* Architectural historical values, in particular as an expression of military-strategic architecture, which was based on and arose as a consequence of

- the system of inundation and access defence (19th century) and

- the arms race with increasingly powerful offensive means (19th century).

This is a component that is presumed to date originally from around 1875, namely an expression related to military-strategic architecture of historical road and water engineering.

* Ensemble value and situational values as part of the New Hollandic Waterline, as well as because of the functional and physical coherence with the other components of the complex.

* The component is representative (characteristic) because it is a good, but no longer authentic example of the application of this type of bridge in a military situation.