Krabsteeg | Blauwe Toren (1983)

Current construction Krabsteeg

In 1983, a very heavy, approximately 9.30 m thick, approximately east-west running wall was found in a construction pit south of the Krabsteeg. The wall was built with stones of approximately 25 x 12 x 5 cm, this wall was preserved up to a height of approximately 3,50 m and rested on a wooden foundation. Parallel to this wall, 2,5 m to the north of it, a second, approximately 2,5 m thick wall had run, which had since been demolished by the contractor, 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. PDF (7 MB) Concentrations of blue limestone rubble were visible near the foundations.

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

Provincial archaeologist Daan Hallewas of the National Service for Archaeological Heritage concluded based on the stone size that the wall remains may have been part of the Blauwe Toren (Blue Tower). No further archaeological research was carried out. Fortunately, De Bie Architects made a drawing PDF (197 KB). Despite frantic efforts to demolish the walls, it took several extra weeks to first drill holes with a diamond drill before the piles could be lowered.

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

During the discussion about the finds outside the Waterpoort, confusion arose about the year in which these walls were found, partly due to an incorrect editorial adjustment in an article by Martin Veen from 1998.2M. Veen
The Blue Tower ; in Oud-Gorcum Varia ; 1998 – 3 ; p.280 – 284. PDF (15 MB) Incorrectly 1978 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. PDF (8 MB) in 19774H. 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. PDF (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).