GORINCHEM – After the very successful excavations at the Happy Corner, Pig market en Dalemsedijk the Archaeology Working Group of the municipality of Gorinchem is starting a new project. This time the focus is on the Barracks Square, where a parking garage with shops and homes above will be built, but where remains of potentially great archaeological value are expected in the soil.
If we go back more than four centuries, we only see cows grazing here. The area was still outside the city at that time. It was not until the end of the 16e century the city was enlarged and the current Kazerneplein came to lie within the walls. In 1590 the city pensioner Mr. Adriaan van Weresteyn bought this terrain from the city and built a colossal house with an enormous garden. His heirs sold this pleasure garden in 1618 to Jonker Jacob van Paffenrode, who bailiff of the city and thus the highest local administrator. His wife was Wilhelmina van Arkel; anyone visiting the Grote Kerk cannot ignore her marble grave monument.
Grave monument of Wilhelmina van Arckel in the Grote Kerk in Gorinchem
Presumably in 1756 the house was demolished and the garden transformed into building and gardening land. In 1826 the municipality became the owner again and built the Willemskazerne, followed by the Citadelkazerne and various outbuildings. These disappeared in 1969, except for the adjutant's house, which survived until July of this year.
Get started yourself
The enthusiastic members of the Archaeology Working Group will start work on August 11 to excavate the remains of the aforementioned 16e century house with garden. Until September 6, everyone can follow the work from behind the fences. But you can also roll up your sleeves! You can dig along yourself and sort the finds. For this you can register at the City Archives, Molenstraat 17, 4201 CV Gorinchem, telephone 0183 – 659292.
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July 8, 1997