De Delf

Report (1951)

Authors

Copyright: © 1951 Johan van Veen
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Published Date

1951

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Source:

Tijdschrift KNAG, vol 68, nr 4, 368-375

Abstract

Local inhabitants were of the opinion that a river, or waterway, had existed North of Delweg. There were so-called "groundless" ditches (soft bottomed) and "Uterdieken" (lands outside the dykes). This old waterway therefore would have had no locks but small dykes. Borings and pressure soundings proved this idea to be true. The canal must have been about 40 m wide and 4 m deep below the land surface (therefore less than1 m at LW.). The name must have been Delf. The road Delweg (Delfwèg ?) might have been a so-called Konrebbersweg (King Redbads way). The so-called Muntjeswegen (Monk's roads) are of late date. The writer estimates the Delf to have been in use about the year 1000, but the canal, having no locks, must have been subject to silting-up in some parts and scouring in others, so that its use rnight have been restricted to a short time only. Probably this Delf was part of the famous medieval "Inner Dunes Route", leading from Flanders up to Friesland, and perhaps to Aurich, where the "Upstall-tree" was (annual "Thing").