Exchanging Medieval Material Culture Studies on archaeology and ...

Fig. 9 Map of the Our-Holy-Lady Hospital from 1845.
82 De Groote et al. 2001.
83 de Hemptinne 1982, 379-388.
84 Callebaut 1983a, 247, 249.
85 Verhulst 1982, 84, 93.
The contribution of archaeological sources to the research of the formation of towns 259
century points to the importance of the domain as governmental
centre at that moment, and can be considered as a terminus
post quem for the urban expansion82. Th is point in time might
indicate a connection with the extinction of the house of Aalst
aft er the dead of Derrick in 1166 and the transfer of his possessions
to the count of Flanders, Philip of Alsace, who was very
diligent in reforming his government83.
Th e construction of the second town rampart increased
the urban surface nearly eightfold (from 6.5 ha to more than
50 ha). Th e new urban defence, that also included a part on the
right bank, had a length of about 4 km. Th e rampart and the
moat dominated the view of the town until the 17th century
(fi g. 10). Aft er the capture of Aalst in 1667 by the French
troops of fi eld marshal Turenne, the urban defences were dismantled84.
As in most Western-European medieval towns, the
late medieval ramparts have put a fi rm stamp on the design of
the town, which is still visible in the actual town map.
5.2 Parcel system, block organisation and
houses
Th e strong population growth during the late 11th and the
12th century85 created a large pressure on the available space in
the walled town. Information about the dimensions of the
plots from that period is very rare. Based on the plot entrances
in the 12th-century ditch alongside the cobbled road on the
site St.-Martensplein, the width of the parcels can be calculated
at between 6 and 8 m. Unfortunately, further information is
Fig. 10 Plan of Aalst, by A. Sanderus (1641).