Heirweg

North-south oriented rural road with a slightly winding course, which runs from the Hulstemolenstraat northwards to the border with Ingelmunster. South of the Hulstemolenstraat, the road continues in a country road that connects to a second country road that forms an extension of the Harelbeeksestraat. The name "Heirweg" suggests that the current street is part of an ancient medieval connecting road between Bruges and Kortrijk. A possible Roman origin cannot be traced. The oldest mention of "heirstraete" dates back to 1477, in the 16th and 17th centuries the variants "herstraete", "heerraete" and "heerewech" are also used. Sometimes also called "Brugse Heirweg". On a map attached to the rent book of the fief "Tollenaers" (1732) the street is mentioned as "heerraete van Brugghe naer Cortryck". A map of the "canton Diestvelt" (1778) still mentions the street as "D'Herstraete loopende van Cortryck naer de Stadt Brugghe". The road lost its importance when the current Brugsesteenweg to the east of Lendelede was built around the middle of the 18th century. In the Atlas der Buurtwegen (1847) the road is already referred to as "Ouden Heirweg" but is still described as "Chemin de Courtrai à Bruges". The Atlas shows that the road used to continue to the south, to connect to "den Steenweg" from Lendelede to Hulste. Further south, a part of the current Veldbosstraat is also named as "Ouden Heirweg". The connection between the Harelbeeksestraat and the Hulstsestraat and the connection with the Heirweg is now made by country roads as a remnant of the former road network, partly interrupted by the Rijksweg. In the first decade of the 20th century, the street was paved with gravel.
Mainly agricultural and residential function. The map of the seigneury of Schardauwe (1724) and the Ferraris map (1770-1778) show scattered farm buildings (including nos. 4 and 6) and a few detached houses, mainly located on the east side of the street. Nr. 6, farm "Ouden Heirweg", going back to an older farm in L-shaped constellation, but now with a completely renovated house and barn. No. 10, "Straatboshoeve", unclear display on Ferraris map. Shown on the Atlas der Buurtwegen (1847) as a combination of two farm workers' houses with a country building in front. Renovation of an older volume, with incorporation of older parts. An old whitewashed side façade can still be seen from the street, the yard facades have been completely renewed.
STATE ARCHIVES OF GHENT, Family Fund, no. 1268: Map of the "canton Diestvelt in Lendelede", 1778.
STATE ARCHIVES OF GHENT, Fonds de Ghellinck de Vaernewijck. Supplement, no. 324: Tithe Book of the Seigneury of Schardauwe, 1724.
STATE ARCHIVES OF KORTRIJK, Acquisitions, VI, no. 6673: Rentboek Tollenaers, 1732.
DELAERE J., 75 Lendeleedse straatnamen, in Lethae, no. 14, 1995, p. 21.
DELAERE J., Geschiedenis van Lendelede tot 2000, Kortrijk, 2000, p. 346, 536.

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