Tower behind

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

A square garden tower of one storey built on a base storey which is set into the steep side of a hill, constructed mainly of random rubble basalt with slightly battered walls. Main entrance faces west in rear elevation.

Main front faces east: two-storey, the lower one built of basalt and limestone rubble containing a lime kiln opening, the upper storey set back slightly, built of basalt rubble with roughly dressed corners, and containing one central window. Lime kiln opening is segmental-arched with rough basalt voussoirs, splayed reveals, and two orders of recessed segmental arches in brick; basalt rubble spandrels. The charging hole has two recessed heads in large roughly-squared basalt blocks. Upper storey has a parapet with three crenellations, now partly blocked; two weepholes below outer crenellations; a projecting corbel course below parapet constructed of two courses of pink sandstone carried on basalt corbels. Window is rectangular, of timber, but crudely constructed, comprising two top-hung toplights above six fixed lights, set in plain reveals with a rusted flat iron plate, slightly bowing, supporting shaped basalt blocks to the window head; roughly shaped rectangular Tudor style drip moulding in basalt over window, below a segmental relieving arch. Small weephole-like recess to left of window; creeper over wall in corresponding position to right.

South elevation comprises lower storey built into side of hill to left, blank walling of basalt and limestone rubble with squared off top in basalt to provide offset base for upper storey. South face of upper storey similar to east face except crenellations completely blocked at top; window narrower than previous, crudely constructed in timber with 18 small panes of fixed lights; blind weephole-like recess to each side of window; two weepholes, to parapet, near extremities. Extending to left-hand side, and slightly set back, basalt rubble retaining wall of exterior steps to west face; incorporates large roughly squared basalt quoins to left-hand extremity; contains a brick segmental arched opening abutting west wall of main block, providing a short brick vaulted recess.

West elevation comprises of one storey only which is the upper storey of the building, with a projecting stone stairway to the roof. Main block has a short return of the projecting corbel courses on north and south elevations appearing at each extremity. Rectangular timber door covered on exterior with painted tongued and grooved sheeting; sliding door latch; set in rectangular recess in wall to left-hand side; rusted iron lintels, with recessed wooden frame built up at top with one course of concrete bricks; segmental relieving arch over doorway. Exterior steps in dog-leg to roof level, with retaining wall to west face partly basalt rubble and partly squared basalt. Steps of granite, partly smooth cement rendered. Rough cement render coping to part of retaining walls. Parapet of main storey of tower on west side cement rendered flush at top, comparatively recent work as black plastic damp course protruding to right. At top of steps parapet opening onto roof has reveals dressed with modern concrete brickwork, inappropriate.

North elevation comprises lower storey built into steep hill at right, blank walling with offset top similar to south elevation; with upper storey similar to south sides except window crudely constructed of timber to form two large panes of fixed lights to top above 12 small panes; one weephole-like recess visible to right of window with creeper on wall to other side obscuring presumed recess there.
Roof is covered with concrete laid to falls with weepholes at each corner, positioned on north and south sides. Central circular cast iron flag support which is blocked with remains of a wooden flagpole. Inner faces and top surface of parapet are smooth cement rendered on three sides, north, west and south, but render partly chipped off on east side to reveal original stonework and two of the crenellations.

Setting: the building stands on an elevated site within the garden of a modern bungalow. The area immediately around the tower is gravelled to the west, with a paved patio to the east, and a steep sloping rockery bed to each side. The bungalow site is surrounded by other bungalows of similar age. The tower provides a fine panoramic view over the countryside to the south and east and part of the Red Hall estate to the north, with views over suburban houses and gardens in the immediate vicinity.

Historical information

Appears on OS map of 1902 marked as ‘Tower’. A lime kiln is shown on the same site on OS map of 1858; area marked as ‘Quarry’ on OS map of 1831. Precise year of tower not recorded but dates from later 19th century and has been built directly on top of the lime kiln to form a gazebo or belvedere which originally stood in the grounds of Red Hall but has stood in the garden of a modern bungalow since c 1988 at least.

References - Primary Sources

1. OS Map 1831, Co Antrim 47.
2. OS Map 1858, Co Antrim 47.
3. OS Map 1902, Co Antrim 47.

Secondary Sources

1. IHR 7122

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

Not listed

Criteria for listing: historic interest

Not listed

Evaluation

This building comprises a late Victorian belvedere in a castellated Tudor Revival style erected on top of a disused lime kiln of conventional early 19th century and type, and from which its simple plan form has been determined. The two-stage structure is neither one thing or the other and this historical development does not add to its quality. The structure has been altered detrimentally over the past few decades and its setting as a belevedere in a rural position has been ruined by the housing development that now surrounds it.