Gelleshof Manor (Kehn)

The Gelleshof in Kehn is also one of the noble residences in Vorst. It is considered one of the oldest estates in Kehn. Until the end of the last century, it had the typical appearance of a knight's estate. Deep and wide water-filled moats surrounded an old solid house. The estate was reached, as it is today, through the gatehouse. Initially, however, one had to cross a drawbridge, which was eventually replaced by a fixed bridge. The old house stood until 1876. It was replaced in the years up to 1880 by the buildings that we still find in part today.

Part of the old fortifications has been preserved to this day, especially the so-called Berfes to the left of the gatehouse, which was restored in the early sixties and again converted into a residential building.

These types of fortified defensive towers are wooden towers intended to accommodate the residents of the estate and the neighborhood in the event of a hostile attack.

The Berfes at Gelleshof, constructed from strong oak beams in half-timbered style, differs from its counterparts in the Lower Rhine region. As this building proved too cramped for residential purposes, an extension was carried out in 1719. The Berfes was enclosed on three sides by the current residential house. The half-timbering of the Berfes was left standing in the middle of the building, and a large new roof was erected over it.