Plan of the redoubt Purmerend

Titel Leupe: Nieuw Project der Verbreeding van de redout Purmerent.

As part of the 1733 plan to improve the defenses of Surinam, Fort Nieuw Amsterdam would be supported by two auxiliary forts on the opposite banks at the mouths of the Surinam and the Commewijne. The first, the earthen redoubt Purmerend on the western bank of the Surinam, was commenced in 1748 to a design by Ensign Andries Lodewijk (Andreas Ludovicus) Calvi, who held the position of Acting-Inspector of Fortifications between 1744 and 1754. Batteries, quarters and other buildings are all indicated. Once in service, Purmerend proved rather ineffective in a number of points. For instance, the points of the two tenailles Calvi had constructed on the river side were too small to support the required ordnance, and the moat and counterscarp with glacis were constructed so close to the bank as to be superfluous.

Under this plan for the improvement of the redoubt Purmerend by Abraham Dircks, of which there is also a version by his son Jacob Gerrit Dircks (see VEL 2044B), the superfluous moat would be filled in and the former counterscarp and curtain wall would be raised to make one, far more substantial main wall. Simultaneously, the small ends of the tenailles would be straightened, so that more cannon could be placed on the wider flanks. As far as is known, this project was thus implemented around 1770.

North is below.

Scale-bars of 10 Rods = [approximately 1 : 500] / [profile] 15 Voet = [approximately 1 : 315].