Farm Groot Amelgem

Farm "Groot Amelgem", in the course of the 12th and 13th centuries (1246) the abbey of Grimbergen gradually acquired an important domain (originally a Gallo-Roman (?) and in the 4th century a Frankish property) that was fragmented by feudalism. Initially united in a courtyard with its own church and two water mills, the operation was split into two farms at the end of the 17th century. Together with the chapel higher up, the "Klein Amelgem" in depth and the "Neerhof" (Wemmel) to the south, a remarkable ensemble that has been preserved in an unspoilt hilly landscape. "Groot Amelgem", itself planted on a ridge, includes a farmhouse from the 17th century, a stable wing from the 18th century, the somewhat further built so-called "Devil's Barn" from 1636 and a detached bakehouse. Complex farmhouse with a two-storey longitudinal wing with very steep and limping gable roof (tiles) on profiled wooden modillons and a transverse building with gable roof (tiles), probably built in the early 17th century (at the time of the prelateship of Ch. Outers 1613-1647) after the destruction during the turmoil of the late 16th century. Whitewashed brick construction with sandstone cornerstones. Little or no traces of the original wall openings. However, remains of a sandstone door frame with neg blocks and quarter-hollow profile. Right side gable with braids and large shoulder pieces with consols in the shape of a carved human head, very well preserved on the rear façade side. Transverse section with side gables finished with braids and simple shoulder pieces; in the rear façade a bricked-up window with neg blocks. Stable wing with truncated gable roof (tiles), from the 18th century; brick construction on a sandstone plinth; on the left, a cross-arched door with quarter-hollow profile (a brick style) and on the right a rectangular door with neg blocks and consol profile under the lintel. Detached barn with gable roof (tiles), so-called "Devil's Barn" because of the legend attached to it, and dating from 1637 but reportedly shortened (?) and partially rebuilt in the 19th century with reuse of the demolition material. Baking and sandstone construction. West side gable with a high sandstone substructure and a bacon-enriched superstructure; chamfered round arch entrance gate with neg blocks and year 1636 on the middle archstone. East side gable of sandstone with a similar gate but the arch of very small bricks; above it, a bricked-up square window with posts and neg blocks of a kind of iron sandstone. In the north longitudinal façade, which is supported by buttresses, a very beautiful, still Gothic profiled round arch door with consols and an elaborate keystone. Detached brick bakehouse with gable roof (tiles) finished with braids.

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