Rooiveld Castle

Rooiveldstraat nrs. 107-109A. Castle "Rooiveld". Castle site consisting of a former hunting lodge with an accompanying farm and outbuildings. The historic domain, surrounded by forests, is located between Kortrijksestraat and Waterstraat, against the southern border of Oostkamp and is bordered to the north by the winding Waardammebeek. The name "Rooiveld" is derived from common lands, known as the 'velt', that were created in the Middle Ages after clearing the vast forests (cf. Introduction). The name now refers both to the castle and the hamlet. History. 16th-17th century. The origins of the castle "Rooiveld" date back to 1507, as a hunting pavilion with accompanying forests, owned by the Melgar de Sporkinshove family cf. inscription on the pillars at the domain entrance. On the Great Map of Brugse Vrije by Pieter Pourbus (1561-1571), copied by Pieter Claeissens (1601), the site is depicted as consisting of three buildings. 18th century. On the Cabinet Map of the Austrian Netherlands, drawn at the initiative of Count de Ferraris (1770-1778), a walled site is depicted consisting of four buildings whose layout is difficult to identify. 19th century. Shown on a map from 1829 from the family archive of Moentack-de Melgar, preserved in the City Archive of Bruges, in function of straightening a path south of the site, running towards the current Waterstraat and described as "Road from Brugge to Wyngene". This path functioned as a connection through the forests between the castle and the current Waterstraat. The "P. de Melgar farmstead" is depicted on a rectangular plot, which is bordered on the west by a remnant of a moat. To the north is the hunting pavilion, more centrally two free-standing farm buildings, namely a farm building on a cross-shaped floor plan and extending from it a long barn volume. In the southwestern corner of the plot stands a transverse, elongated farm building. The bakehouse is not yet depicted. The hunting pavilion is already divided into two separate living areas: the residence of the noble family in the west and the residence of the tenant in the east. The same situation appears on the primitive cadastre plan (circa 1835) with the only differences being that the southwestern bay of the central farm building has disappeared and that the bakehouse is now depicted. The current residence is, according to the descriptive table accompanying the mutation sketch, divided into the house of Pieter de Melgar (west) and a house and building (east); the latter is occupied by the tenant Joachim Snauwaert. To the north is a garden. The farm buildings (cf. nr. 109) are located in an orchard. On the Atlas of Neighborhood Roads (circa 1843), the site is designated as "Ferme Verhaeghe", despite the fact that the cadastre still lists the Melgar as the owner during that period; the configuration of the building complex remains unchanged. According to cadastre records, Guido Arents de Beerteghem inherits the castle domain in 1859. A figurative map from the State Archive of Bruges indicates the situation around 1850. Around 1885, according to the mutation sketch of the cadastre, the former hunting pavilion is extended eastward (tenant’s house); the central farm building also undergoes a (not further specified) expansion and in the east of the site, an elongated building is constructed (the current nr. 109B (6), a heavily remodeled farm). In 1888, the domain passes through inheritance to Aquilin Arents de Beerteghem-de Thibault de Boesinghe. The family Arents de Beerteghem is a prominent Bruges family that at that time resides in the Arentshuis in Bruges (Dijver nr. 16). In a painting from 1895, published in 1981 by Bouljon, the hunting lodge appears as a gentleman's residence of four bays and two stories under a fairly high gabled roof, flanked to the east by the tenant's residence consisting of a single-story wing. 20th century. In 1903, another renovation of the former hunting pavilion is recorded: both to the west and east, the existing building is expanded; the eastern part receives an L-shaped floor plan. The barn volume east of the central farm building is also extended. In 1906, both farm buildings are connected by a carriage passage and a tower volume is built onto the residence of the gamekeeper. A subsequent expansion of the former hunting lodge takes place in 1948: the western half of the residence is enlarged northward. After the death of Miss Marguerite Arents de Beerteghem in 1958, the castle passes to her nephews Ides and Ferdinand Janssens de Bisthoven. Ides Janssens de Bisthoven (º1921), former mayor of Waardamme, still resides in the domain today. The new owner has the former hunting pavilion converted into a spacious residence in the early 1960s. Part of the former outbuildings (such as the gamekeeper’s house) is demolished, except for the picturesque tower. Description. At the access path to the castle domain, two boundary posts stand, and at the entrance to the domain itself, two natural stone pillars with the following inscriptions: left "WAERDAMME / ROYVELD / FAMILIA / DE / MELGAR / DE / SPORKINSHOVE / ANNO / 1507" and right "FAMILIA / ARENTS / DE / BEERTEGHEM / ANNO / 1858"; in between a decorative wrought-iron gate. Former hunting pavilion (1) of two stories and six bays under a gabled roof with gray Flemish tiles. Renewed overhanging gable roof equipped with several preserved dormers. After renovation in the 1960s, the bell tower with a slate spire and crowning weather vane disappears from the ridge. White-painted facades with rectangular, bay windows. In the 1960s, the woodwork is renewed and the door in the rear facade disappears. Similar side facade of four bays with access door. Main access at the north side. To the east of it is a lower adjoining volume, previously the residence of the tenant farm at the hunting pavilion and now included in the residence of the noble family. Brick construction of seven bays and one story under a renewed tiled gable roof, equipped with renewed dormers. An attached low volume under a pent roof against the side facade with a round window above it. On the north side, a similar, cross-built volume of four bays under a crooked gable roof. Also white-painted facades. Until the renovation in the 1960s, fenetre à terres and two doors in the rear facade, now bay windows with renewed woodwork and one preserved doorway. Tower (2) built in 1906, by an older, since the 1960s disappeared gamekeeper’s house. Located south of the castle, as it were extending the outbuildings of the former domain farm. Octagonal tower building under slate roofing, ending in a pear-shaped tower spire and equipped with a wrought-iron crowning. Eaves resting on small modillions. Facades with narrow, rectangular windows; access door in the east facade. At the top there is an oculus on each side. Centrally located farm building (3) possibly with an older core, but the current constellation and appearance date from the early 20th century. Formerly a free-standing stable with, to the east, a free-standing barn volume, interconnected in the early 20th century by a carriage passage. Western part of five bays and one story under an overhanging gable roof with tiles. Front facade with slightly arched openings (two gates, front door, and two windows) with above it two roof windows with gable end. Renewed woodwork alternately painted green and white. Side facade with ivy growth. Attached barn volume under an overhanging gable roof with tiles. Facades provided with air vents. Central monumental passageway and left gate. Bakehouse (4) from the first quarter of the 19th century with three bays with a central front door under a gable roof with tiles. White-painted facades equipped with bay windows with preserved woodwork and drip edges of sintered brick. Attached to the east is a bake oven, also under a tiled gable roof and with a loading hatch in the side facade. To the west an attached doghouse with an iron enclosure around it. In the park lies an elongated stable volume (5) partly built of unpainted brick and partly provided with wooden cladding. Covered with a gable roof with Flemish tiles. Park. Park layout with remaining features of a young heath reclamation structure with oaks and beech avenues, interrupted by a late 19th-century landscape design cf. preserved multi-pond area, park trees (including beech, brown beech, and black pine), shrub masses, and winding paths south of the country house. Central and northern park arrangement adjusted around 1960 by the renowned Brussels garden architect René Pechère (1908-2002), with a curved access road with granite access pillars to the west, leading to a semicircular square in dolomite north of the country house, bordered by a beech hedge; perspective over valley landscape of the Waardammebeek with grazing meadows, pollard trees, and valley forests. Southern plot side in lawn, flanked by rhododendron and hydrangea masses and some remaining park trees including beech, robinia, and maple. Notable, polychrome garden statue on a brick pedestal depicting a pig hunter with dog and child and a guiding light; perspectives over a spacious tree meadow with summer oaks to the west; swimming pool in the eastern corner of the plot, isolated by yew hedges. To the south, behind the plot, a hidden tennis court. To the west of the country house is an adjoining small walled ornamental garden and terrace also crafted by garden architect R. Pechère; narrowly star-shaped ground plan with alternating dolomite paths and bordered flower beds (including rose, aster, fuchsia, lavender) around a central circular fountain; numerous high pillar-like and low round boxwood ornaments; some garden sculptures, entrances via a wide recessed garden gate to the north and a low ornamental wrought iron gate at the plot side; low wall with climbing plants and trained fruit (including climbing hydrangea, grapes, and quince). To the east of the country house, the former vegetable garden space with a preserved ornamental wrought iron gate, now filled with half-standard fruit trees; some remaining boxwood ornaments. To the west of the former hunting lodge is a covered storage cellar with a brick barrel vault and a low, single access door; the cellar is overgrown in the back by an imposing lime tree. CADASTRAL ARCHIVE WEST FLANDERS IN BRUGES, 207: Mutation sketches, Waardamme, 1885/17, 1903/2, 1906/4, 1948/6. CADASTRAL ARCHIVE WEST FLANDERS IN BRUGES, 212: Cadastral register, Waardamme, articles 45 and 264. STATE ARCHIVE BRUGES, Maps and plans Mestdagh, no. 1120: Figurative map of properties (section A, E, and F), 19th century. CITY ARCHIVES BRUGES, Archive Moentack de Melgar, no. 486: Maps, documents, and notes related to straightening a country road in Waardamme, Rooiveld, owned by P. de Melgar, 1829. CITY ARCHIVES BRUGES, Archive Moentack de Melgar, no. 2147: Figurative maps and plans, Plan of property in Waardamme and Papenvijvers, owned by P. de Melgar, s.d. BOULJON B., Het Oostkamp, Ruddervoorde, Hertsberge and Waardamme of then, Bruges, 1984, p. 140-141. BOULJON B., Oostkamp, Hertsberge, Ruddervoorde and Waardamme in old postcards, Zaltbommel, 1981, no. 77. DE FLOU K., Dictionary of toponymy of western Flanders, Flemish Artesië, the land of the Hoek, the counties of Guines and Boulogne, and part of the county of Ponthieu, part XIII, Bruges, 1932, column 778. ROYAL INSTITUTE FOR ART PATRIMONY, Photo library. STROBBE L., DENOLF J., Waardamme: a model community in the countryside, Waardamme, 1971.

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