Lodges

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

A pair of two one-storey dwellings symmetrically arranged around and east-west axis. Main façade looks west, with yard and outbuildings to rear. Sited on a terrace below Silent valley dam. U-plan, with projecting gables to main façade and to sides, all with bayed ends. Porched entrances in angle of side returns.

Roof is gabled and of natural slate, with terracotta ridging, barge boards topped with finials, and exposed rafter ends. Rock-faced granite ashlar chimneys with projecting plinths and caps. Cast iron cyma recta rain water goods. Walls are of rock-faced squared granite rubble in irregular courses over chamfered base course. Canted window bays with oversailing eaves courses to all gable projections.

Windows are 1/1 sliding sash throughout, cased with ashlar granite (cills chamfered). Steps lead up to porches which have painted sheeted doors with rectangular transoms over.

Yard immediately behind house delineated from rear courtyard by a granite wall. Contains small coal sheds. Main yard accessed by large carriage entrance on south wall; concrete lintel over reads ‘1915’. This yard is enclosed by one-storey outbuildings of identical style to houses.

Historical information

Designed by L.L. Macassey, Engineer to the Belfast City & District Water Commissioners, as engineers’ houses, stores and office. The rear yard appears to be structurally contiguous with the houses to front. All were therefore erected in 1915 (datestone), shortly after exploratory work began on the construction of the Silent Valley dam (but which the first world war delayed until 1923).

Primary Sources:
1. Original drawings in DOE Water Service, Westland House, Old Westland Rd, Belfast (cat. no. 2D19, 2D31, 2D57, 2D62, 2D66).

Secondary Sources:
1. G. McIldowie ‘The construction of the Silent Valley reservoir, Belfast water supply’, in Proc. Institution Civil Engineers, N. Ireland Branch (Belfast 1934).
2. Belfast City & District Water Commissioners, ‘The Mourne Scheme’ (Belfast, 1959).

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

A. Style
B. Proportion
C. Ornamentation
H+. Alterations enhancing the building
J. Setting
K. Group value

Criteria for listing: historic interest

Y. Social, Cultural or Economic Importance
X. Local Interest

Evaluation

A pleasing symmetrical and well proportioned design, executed to a high standard. Retains original planform and external appearance, but somewhat altered internally. Not dissimilar in its detailing to Water Superintendent’s house at entrance to the Silent Valley grounds (HB16/02/017). One of a group of water-related buildings hereabouts – corrugated metal bungalows, screening rooms, lime dosing plant and generating station.

Landscaped grounds enhance appearance.