The Green Gates

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

Set of neo-Classical gates and screen walling with adjacent gate lodge (HB16/05/005B) forming an entrance to the Mourne Park demesne from the Newry Road. Of similar design to the White Water gates further along the road to the west (HB16/05/007A).

This gate screen has been altered to provide a wider carriageway. Because both pillars are now wider apart, the gates no longer meet to close the opening.

Both gates are green painted wrought iron with cast iron detailing. Each has dog bars, with decorative lozenge frieze, alternate dog bars terminating in cast spear heads while others rise to form upper portion of gate. The top rail of gate sweeps up to meet the gate piers and each bar is terminated with a cast spearhead. Between each of these is a spike finial, hanging from which is a cast iron foliated pendant (hanging from top rail). The meeting rail of both gates is terminated in a decorative wrought scroll.

Each gate pier has a moulded ashlar plinth with six ashlar courses over and is terminated by a full entablature including a tall fluted frieze and overhanging moulded cornice. To each side is a concave sweep of strap-pointed squared granite random rubble with flush rounded coping. These walls, which are a modern rebuild, are terminated in piers as those to gates. From these, parallel with road, run two original convex sweeps which are terminated with ashlar granite piers (five courses) with gableted and moulded overhanging caps. From these the wall steps up to a height of about 2.5m on the main estate boundary (HB16/05/066).

Historical information

Depicted on the 1859 OS 6” map as the ‘Green Gate’. Not on the 1834 map, indicating a mid 19th century construction date.

Sources:
1. PRONI- OS 6/3/55/1 (1834 map) (Down sheet 55).
2. PRONI- OS 6/3/55/2 (1859 map) (Down sheet 55).

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

A. Style
B. Proportion
C. Ornamentation
H-. Alterations detracting from building
J. Setting
K. Group value

Criteria for listing: historic interest

X. Local Interest
Z. Rarity

Evaluation

Beautifully detailed gates, albeit with some alteration to their position. Associated with the adjacent lodge and forming the main entrance to the demesne.