The earliest history says that the Onze-Lieve-Vrouwechapel of Wijnendale was founded on the Fonteinpad as a thank you for discovering a spring in a very dry summer. This would have been in the period 1111-1119. If this were a correct hypothesis, it is possible that the spring water was diverted to Wijnendale castle via an earthen pipe. This may explain the part of the name 'pipe' in Roo Pijpfontein.
The name Roopyp fountain can be found for the first time on the map of Pieter Pourbus of 1562, the name is also mentioned on the map of Sanderus (1641) and Ferraris (1772).
When the German van Kleef family came to settle at the castle in the 15th century, Philip van Kleef from Germany brought potters and glassblowers with him. A pottery workshop is set up near the Roo Pijpfontein. This was the basis of the Torhout pottery industry. Clear water was needed to wash the clay and also a great need for fuel, the trees on the "Roodeland" were ideal for this. This also immediately explains the first part of the name of Roo Pijpfontein.
The fountain was moved in 1880 during the repairs to the castle. At the original place you could find a blue stone, it is not clear if this is still the case. The owner Joseph-Louis-Jules Mathieu had 2 reasons for the move. The meadow slope was private property and the Fonteindreef was a road that was accessible to everyone. The Brussels engineer F. Englebert led the work and built a source house in 1884.
During the Second World War, the Germans placed a pump at the rear of the source house. Around 1959 the door was closed with bricks.
During the late 1960s and 1970s, the water was in great demand for its purity. The examination of the spring water on March 4, 1974 indicated that the water was odorless, tasteless and clear in color.
In 1988, the lord of the castle closed the Fonteinpad on Zuster-Clarastraat, people drove to the source by car and left litter behind. A pipe was laid to Zuster-Clarastraat and a series of taps were installed there. In 1994 it was decided by the provincial government that the source had to be closed, because there were too many nitrates in the water. Source: Wikipedia
Since 23-11-1998, the Roopipe Fountain has been protected as a monument because of its historical value. Since 09-11-2011 we can talk about architectural heritage. The source house of the Roopipe fountain is still easily recognizable by the red brick building with very neat masonry and the turret.
Translated by Google •
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