Sluiswachterswoning

English translation

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Description

Sluice-keeper's Dwelling (Cothen).

NEW HOLLANDIC WATERLINE

Introduction

SLUICE-KEEPER'S DWELLING (Cothen) dating from approximately 1870 and built south-west of the navigation lock with weir / dam lock in the Kromme Rijn. Outside times of military exercise or mobilization the lock functioned mainly as a navigation lock for the benefit of local shipping. Defensive measures were not found in the terrain. The dwelling was established as part of the waterworks serving a possible inundation of the area south-east of Utrecht and was therefore financed by the Department of War. In the applied architecture of such dwellings there was no uniformity; the building material used varied, but usually consists of brick or wood, while the number of storeys also differed. Nor were there clear standards regarding the location of a keeper's dwelling, and local circumstances will have played a large role in this. The approximately contemporaneously built sluice-keeper's dwellings at Cothen and near Werkhoven did, however, show important similarities in building style. These have, however, become blurred or even effaced over time. Various modernizations have taken place, here including the renewal or installation of windows and frames, an extension on the rear side and the construction of roof dormers. Also on the right end facade an extension has been realized via an intermediate section. In the left end facade a later window opening. The southern facade is partly cemented. The interior was not visited.

Description

SLUICE-KEEPER'S DWELLING (Cothen), located south-west of the navigation lock in the Kromme Rijn and with the left end facade along the west side of the Kerkweg. The brick dwelling is built on a rectangular floor plan (approximately 12 x 8 m) and is covered by a gabled roof covered with red tiles with the roof ridge oriented approximately east-west - parallel to the lock. The main facade faces north. The dwelling has one storey and is provided on the right in the roof ridge with a brick chimney. The symmetrical, northern long facade (main facade) has a central entrance opening, flanked by twice two windows; all facade openings with stretched arch. The facades of the long sides provided with some decorative wall anchors. Right end facade plastered and whitewashed. In both gable facades window(s).

Valuation

The SLUICE-KEEPER'S DWELLING (Cothen) south-west of the lock 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 realized 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 building related to military-strategic engineering, which is based on: a. the system of inundation and access defence (19th century).

This concerns a component that dates from around 1870, namely a military and civil service dwelling.

* Ensemble value and situational values as part of the New Hollandic Waterline. Also because of the functional and physical coherence with the other components of the complex and in particular with the navigation lock at Cothen and with the comparable dwelling near Werkhoven.

* The component is fairly representative despite alterations because it is an example of a military and civil service dwelling installed at a waterwork.

* The component is reasonably well preserved because the main form and various structural details, as well as different components, have remained recognizable.