The Blue Tower in the Krabsteeg

Current construction Krabsteeg-Schuttersgracht

In 1983, a construction pit was built south of the Krabsteeg, now Schuttersgracht, a very heavy approximately 9.30 m thick wall running approximately east-west emerged. The wall was built with stones of approximately 25 x 5 x 12 cm, this wall was still preserved up to a height of approximately 3,50 m and rested on a foundation of wood. Parallel to this wall, 2,5 m to the north of it, a second approximately 2,5 m thick wall had run, which had been demolished by the contractor in the meantime, but could still be seen in the profile of the construction pit.1DP Hallewas
Gorcum ; Krabsteeg ; discovery of wall remains possibly in connection Blauwe Toren (Blue Tower) ; Archaeological Chronicle South Holland 1983 ; Regional Historical Journal Holland ; 16^de volume no. 6 ; 1984 ; p. 322. Download (7 MB)

Foundations with the drilling rig in the foreground, photos Daan Hallewas

Provincial archaeologist Daan Hallewas concluded on the basis of the stone size and large concentrations of blue limestone rubble that the wall remains may have been part of the Blauwe Toren (Blue Tower). No further archaeological research was carried out and it is therefore very difficult to conclude whether these were fortress or castle walls. Architects De Bie made a drawing (197 KB). Despite attempts to demolish the walls, a few extra weeks had to be spent first drilling holes with a diamond drill to drive the piles.

Projection of the wall work found in 1983 (brown lines)

During the discussion about the finds Outside the Water Gate confusion arose about the year in which these walls were found, partly due to an incorrect entry in an article by Martin Veen from 1998.2M. Veen
The Blue Tower ; in Oud-Gorcum Varia ; 1998 – 3 ; p.280 – 284. Download (15 MB) Incorrectly 1976 was reported as the year of discovery. In 19753H. Sarfatij
Gorinchem, Wijdschild wall remains of the castle of the lords of Arkel found during work on ravelins; Archaeological Chronicle of South Holland 1975; Regional Historical Journal Holland; 8^e volume no. 6 ; 1976 ; p. 276. Download (8 MB) in 1977 4H. Sarfatij
Gorinchem, Wijdschild discovery of foundations of the castle of the lords of Arkel; Archaeological Chronicle of South Holland 1977; Regional Historical Journal Holland; 10^e volume no. 6 ; 1978 ; p. 308. Download (7 MB) were wall remains of the castle of the Arkels found in the Wijdschild but nothing in a possible relation with the Blauwe Toren (Blue Tower).