Woonhuis, Maasdijk 343

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

Introduction

Former TOWN HALL dating from the 19th century. The building is constructed in the Neoclassical style. Situated high on the dike at the corner of Witboomstraat, opposite the mooring place of the ferry to Aalst. The upper storey of the building, with rich interior, burned out in 1993, after which the entire house was restored. The building is in use as a dwelling.

Description

The two-storey house on a rectangular plan is erected above a sandstone plinth from narrow red hand-moulded bricks (22 x 10 x 4 cm) in English bond with snap joints. The hipped roof is covered with smothered Dutch roof tiles. At the ends of the ridge substantial masonry chimneys. Hip rafters and ridge covered with lead. Centrally on front and rear roof slopes a roof dormer with cross-roedeverdeling window and splayed cheeks under flat roof. Sandstone step with corresponding bollards, provided with forged iron link chains. The 5-bay symmetrical front facade has in the centre a renewed door with panels and fanlight with rich cast-iron arabesques decoration (tree of life). The upper transom is moulded. Monumental wooden frame with pilasters and floral motifs in panels on moulded sandstone bases. Moulded cornice. On either side two windows with large 6-pane sash windows and double shutters. Surrounds and sandstone window sills. On the storey in the centre a window frame with 6-pane door behind a French balcony with iron scrollwork railing. On either side two windows with large 6-pane sash windows. Moulded wooden cornice, which continues on the side and rear facades as narrower moulded gutter moulding. Left side facade, insofar as not concealed by recent extension under flat roof, on the ground floor with large window with 6-pane sash window and double shutters as front facade. On the storey two large 6-pane sash windows with double shutters. Between them a small, recently barred window with roller blinds. Right side facade with four large windows with 6-pane sash windows with double shutters. Rod anchors. In the sandstone plinth at basement level a 4-pane sash window with double shutters. In the plinth rosette-shaped cast-iron ventilation grilles. The 5-bay rear facade is asymmetrical in that on the ground floor to the left of centre there is only one wall opening instead of two. On the storey 5 large windows with 6-pane sash windows; on the ground floor 4 sets of French doors of the same model, however provided with double shutters. Rod anchors. The windows and doors of the entire building have as far as possible surrounds and sandstone window sills.

The old interior of the house is on the ground floor and in the spacious basement to a great extent well preserved. Also the old layout has largely remained. In the basement with cellar a kitchen with old tiles, mainly white ones and several Delft blue medallion tiles. Remarkable are four tiles from an original larger tableau with a manganese-coloured depiction of making music angels (second half of the 18th century). Moulded window frame with casement windows with each 6 panes to the cellar. Heavy old cellar door with forged hinges. On the ground floor a long corridor with stucco ceiling and grey-veined marble floor, everywhere old panelled doors. Left in the corridor an old arched niche with Delft blue medallion tiles and several manganese-coloured tiles with identical floral motifs. In the room back right (possibly the former council chamber) beam ceilings with bead moulding, as everywhere on the ground floor. Large cupboards with convex and concave moulded profile and panelled doors, angled corner cupboard. Round fireplace with simply moulded black wooden mantel and semi-circular sandstone floor tile. Manganese-coloured half tiles with diamond motif (second half of the 18th century), mirror arch-shaped opening and cast-iron fire plate with depiction of Saint George and the Dragon. The room front right with "black marble" fireplace mantel (19th century), fireplace with wooden cornice resting on fluted pilasters with rosettes. All windows of the ground floor have renewed internal shutters. Upper storey and roof date from 1994.

Valuation

The former town hall from the 19th century is of general importance. The building has cultural-historical value as a particular expression of a socio-economic development, as an example of a town hall in the countryside. The building has architectural-historical value because of the internally and externally well-preserved main structure and the traditional use of materials as well as because of the rich and well-preserved interior. As a relatively early example of a substantial countryside town hall it also has rarity value. It has together with the other dike buildings ensemble value on account of the connection with the historical-spatial development of the village and is character-determining for the street scene.