Vlamertingse Pottebrekers
The nickname has found its origin in knocking together beerpots of Vlamertinge. In the 15th century, the village had quite some pubs and hostels. So every Sunday, people came together to have some fun. As the villagers could celebrate exuberantly, quite some beerpots broke. That’s where they got their name of ‘Vlamertingse pottebrekers’
De Witte Molen (“De Witn Meuln”), The White Mill
This stone
mill was built in 1801 with bricks of the destroyed castle Wintershove. As the outer walls were coated with
whitewash, the name ‘the white mill’ was obvious. Beside grain, the millstones also ground
flaxen seed and cole-seed in order to produce oil. Round about 1870, the wings disappeared and
from then on, a steam engine took care of the drive. During the First World War, english
ambulances brought wounded soldiers to the field hospital that was organised in
the ‘body’ of the mill. In 1966, they
pulled down the dilapidated mill, as well as the chimney of the steam engine.
Het station (“De Stoasje"), the Railwaystation
The hopwarehouse was built in 1868. At the turn of the 20th century, in that warehouse, the owners, who bought the hop from local farmers, dryed, sulphated and compressed the hop into bales. The export of hop to England was enormous. During the first World War, the warehouse was used to house wounded soldiers.
Hopmagazijn (“hommelast”), the Hopwarehouse
The hopwarehouse was built in 1868. At the turn of the 20th century, in that warehouse, the owners, who bought the hop from local farmers, dryed, sulphated and compressed the hop into bales. The export of hop to England was enormous. During the first World War, the warehouse was used to house wounded soldiers.
Het Kasteel, the Castle
In 1857-1858, earl Pierre-Gustave du Parc Locmaria had this impressive castle built in the middle of the park at the Hospitaalstraat, close to the Kemmelbrook. Originally, it was the country house of Jacques de Ghelcke, whose daughter married earl Charles du Parc in 1821, father of Pierre-Gustave, that stood on the property. Jozef Schadde from Antwerp, one of Belgians most famous architects at that time, drafted the floor plans of this castle. until today, the original furniture is in perfect condition and the former gardeners house still belongs to the family Du Parc. During the first World War, het castle was repeatedly occupied by different armies. Heavy firing from the germans caused a lot of dammage to the roof, the towers, etc…
