Gateways to Red Hall

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

Two pairs of gate piers built at two different times and in two different styles. Inner piers, at end of Redhall Drive: a pair of square stone piers with tall pyramidal tops, now truncated, constructed of roughly squared basalt rubble; projecting string course at base of top. Modern tubular iron gate.

Outer piers, at entrance to Redhall Drive: a pair of large square piers constructed of roughly square basalt rubble in courses with block dressings in brickwork; coping of rough hewn basalt blocks, but tops of piers damaged and overgrown. Screen walls of basalt rubble to each side.

Setting: the piers stand at each end of a leafy cul-de-sac which continues at its end to become a side driveway to Red Hall. It is located in a rural area on the edge of the village and is bordered by hedges to one side and suburban houses to the other side.

Historical information

Built in connection with Red Hall. Piers do not appear on any OS maps but the driveway appears on the OS map of 1831 except for the position of its entrance. Precise year of building not known but the inner piers are stylistically similar to the two piers (HB06/05/013E) now appearing as garden features to the north along the same drive, and may date from c 1800. The outer pair of piers, at the entrance to Redhall Drive, date from the time Island Road was re-aligned which was some time between 1831 and 1858 (ie first and second OS maps), probably in later 1850s.

References - Primary Sources

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

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

Not listed

Criteria for listing: historic interest

Not listed

Evaluation

Two pairs of gate piers of some interest as part of an important estate but now incomplete.