Donjon Ter Heyden

The keep of Ter Heyden was built around 1350 by a fief of the lord of Rotselaar. The original tower consisted of brick. In 1867 Duke Engelbert August of Arenberg became the owner. Between 1870 and 1877 he had restoration work carried out. It was only during this restoration that the keep was given a façade cladding consisting of layers of brown iron sandstone interspersed with white sand-lime stone. Whether this was because of a misinterpretation of the finishing of medieval monuments, or in the spirit of the 19th century to make the tower look more medieval, let's leave it in the middle. Neo-Gothic joinery was also made for the tower and its outbuildings. The duke took a great interest in the restoration and often came to see how the works were progressing. However, he died in 1875 before the works were finished in 1878.

The iron sandstone for the restoration of the tower was cut loose in June and July 1873 in the ducal quarry on the nearby Middelberg. This quarry had been owned by the lords of Rotselaar since the Middle Ages. Accounts show that this stone was more expensive than comparable stone from the Hageland. The quality will probably have been particularly good. The stone was mainly exported within the region. For example, the stone was delivered for the Sint-Sulpitius church in Diest, for the abbey of Tongerlo and for the city of Leuven.

Jan Rymenams