Hoeve Speelhoven

Former farm of the lords of Speelhoven, descendants of the house of Aarschot. Manor house of seven bays and three storeys, under a gable roof.

The right-hand part (five bays) dates from the first half of the 17th century, is built in brick on ironstone plinth, using sandstone for the cross-bar frames (with profiled sill) and scaffolding holes; two ironstone round-arched doors (with moulding, key, imposts); the central bay is surmounted by a Flemish window with an over-corner stop.

The two left bays (the first of which was bricked up) date from the second half of the 19th century, when the farm was enlarged in that direction; They contrast sharply with the old part.

The side-stepped gable (on shoulder pieces) is asymmetrical: the rear has only one storey. The rear façade has seven bays and a third of them date from the second half of the 19th century. Recently, the windows were modified and modern skylights were installed.

Perpendicular to the house (south) is the old barn (with skylight and large gate with ironstone blocks), the roof of which was lowered in the second half of the 19th century. The right part was added in recent times. The parking facilities are located in a northerly direction.

The farm complex was previously surrounded on four sides by moats, which approach the dimensions of a pond in a southerly direction. These are now largely silted up.

The farm is reached along a lane (160 m long) of American oaks; It runs right through the meadow land that surrounds the farm in a northerly and easterly direction.

Peach orchards on a hillside to the north of the homestead border the pastureland. To the west and south, the farm is surrounded by orchards. At that time (13th-14th centuries) the hillside in a northwesterly direction was planted with vineyards of local renown. The farm is therefore located in the middle of an unspoilt undulating landscape.

Source: https://inventaris.onroerenderfgoed.be/erfgoedobjecten/200260

Rudy Wuyts