Bellarena Gate Lodge

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

A storey and a half building at the back entrance to the Bellarena estate, in a picturesque cottage gothic style. Built of basalt with granite window cills it sits parallel to the road facing west. The entrance has a porch with a steeply pitched roof supported on timber trellises from basalt arms with granite cills. It is similar in form to the porches of the former constabulary barracks (HB02/09/030) and the cottage near Bellarena station (HB02/09/010) a single window on the front has a double side hung casement with diamond panes and secondary internal casement with clear glazing. A steeply pitching slate roof is above. To the sides there are two similar windows at low level with two further windows at high level with sliding sash and round headed. To the rear, the building has been extended and the new portion is rendered. The new work is neatly tucked behind the house and does not detract from its pleasant appearance. It doesn’t add anything either.

Historical information

The building is indicated on the 1831 Ordnance Survey map, though it was rebuilt circa 1860 by Frederick Heygate. It was built as a gate lodge for the Bellarena Estate and functioned as such until 15 years ago when much of the estate lands and buildings were sold off. The owner told us that the interior living room was once a double height space with the stairs rising to a bedroom over the kitchen.

Reference

U A H S North Derry by Girvan

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

Not listed

Criteria for listing: historic interest

Not listed

Evaluation

A picturesque former gate house whose presence on Scotstown Road is an asset to the architectural quality of the area. However it has lost its association with the big house, the interior is gone and as noted earlier the addition to the rear does not improve the building.