Holy water font

Description

Holy water font made in Delft (1700−1750), IHS with Cross surrounded by three putti in relief. Found during the excavation at the Barracks Square (1997) in the cesspool of the Paffenrode house.

House Paffenrode

Prior to the construction of a parking garage on the Barracks Square an archaeological investigation was carried out in 1997. During the excavation, the researchers discovered remains of the 16^de-century home of the bailiff van Gorinchem and the Land van Arkel. The house was known as Huis Paffenrode, named after its most famous resident: Jacob van Paffenrode (± 1591 – 1652). He was married to Wilhelmina van Arkel (± 1590 – 1628). The couple had three children: Joan (1618−1673), Rudolf (1620−1673) and Anna (1625−1656).

Jacob van Paffenrode, Wilhelmina van Arkel and their daughter Anna at about the age of 4.

Military Joan van Paffenrode, was best known as a playwright and continued to live in the house after his father's death (until before 1682). After that lived here until about 1686 Louis Huygens of Zuylichem, son of the famous poet Constantine Huygens. In 1672 appointed stadtholder William III of Orange him as bailiff of Gorinchem. In this function, Huygens did not make himself popular with the population by demanding higher taxes. He was accused of corruption and subsequently dismissed from his position. Lodewijk Huygens married Jacoba Teding van Berkhout in 1674. They had eight children, five of whom died at a very young age.