Lodge to Narrow Water Castle

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

L-shaped, one and half storey/ two bay gate lodge to Narrow Water demesne, on E side of Mound Road.

Pitched natural slate roof with an ashlar granite chimney to centre of main ridge. The chimney consists of a pair of square stacks set at angles on a common base. Roof has boarded overhanging eaves (rafter tails exposed) and decorative (reproductions of original) fretted bargeboards with cusped ends and slender finials. Walls are finely dressed granite blocks, regularly coursed and on an advanced basecourse.

Principal elevation faces E to road and is two bays wide. The right bay advances as gable and left contains the main entrance. Entrance is contained within an open porch with lean-to natural slate roof supported by a single granite Tuscan column at left end. Threshold is flagged with granite slabs. Entrance doorway set to left and its reproduction timber door has 3/3 bolection panels. To its right is a window opening containing a pair of 2x3 paned timber casements, each with a 2x2 transom over sharing a flush and splayed granite cill. All windows are similarly detailed unless otherwise stated.

The right bay advances forward slightly and its exposed left (S) cheek is blank. The gable has a large central window opening with three 2x6 paned vertical lights, with 2x2 paned transoms over. Over is moulded granite drip mould with labels. In apex is a pair of 2x3 (no transoms) casement windows in a small common opening.

The left (S) gable has a single storey canted bay window with finely dressed granite mullions and moulded cornice. Hipped slated roof on timber eaves board. Its front window contains a pair of 2x6 paned casements with 2x2 transoms. Its cheeks have similar single lights. In apex is a pair of 2x3 casements windows as front.

The rear (W) elevation is in granite rubble brought to courses and without advanced basecourse. A small narrow 2x3 paned fixed window with 2x2 transom at extreme left. The centre is abutted by a modern timber and glass link block to the new extension. Link has a pitched natural slate roof, and a higher eaves level.

The right (N) elevation is identical to left (S) one and incorporates the blank right cheek of the advanced gable on the front elevation.

Extension

This consists of a slightly taller one and half storey block aligned N-S behind the original lodge. Its end gables have single storey returns aligned W-E and advancing towards the E on either side of the original block.

Pitched natural slate roof with partly boxed eaves and plain bargeboards. Walls are painted cement dash with roughly dressed raised granite quoins and finely dressed granite heads and cills. Windows are reproduction. Garage to N return and sitting room to S one.

Setting

The gate lodge is set on E side of Mound Road and is enclosed by a granite rubble stone wall to road (E) and lane into Narrow Water Demesne (N). The wall to road is terminated at N end by two strap-pointed square granite rubble gate piers with finely dressed moulded copings. Gates have plain vertical wrought iron bars with cast-iron spearhead finials. At left and right are smaller pedestrian gates hung from plain one-piece granite posts. Diagonal dogbars and circle and diamond repeat lock bar. A gravelled driveway leads S towards the estate. On its left side are gates similar to the pedestrian gate that leads to the house. They are supported on cast-iron birdcage posts with similar repeat panels and boss-topped pyramidal hoods. A concave granite dwarf wall supports curved spear-end screen railings and is terminated at either end by square in section granite blockwork piers with raised corners.

Historical information

First depicted on the 1860 OS 6" map, with carriageway to main house along E side. Deane attributes it to Thomas Duff c.1837, who was apparently inspired by P.F. Robinson, a pioneer of the English Picturesque. Eventually fell into complete decay c.1980, but restored in 1994. An almost identical single storey building is the E lodge to Tamnaharry House (HB16/10/010), which retains original cast iron window frames, its front door and internal detailing.

The HMBB first survey slide shows it to have has finely carved timber bargeboards with a cusped profile and no finials. The front porch is supported on three main columns and a demi-column to wall at left end. The S bay window has a very shallow leaded roof. The screen of railings is shown very close to the right gable of the house, it is now much further to the N. Deane states that the gates were by Samuel Weir, whitesmith of Newry.

Primary sources:
1. OS 6" map, 1860, Co Down sheet 51 (PRONI, OS/6/3/51/2).
2. HMBB first survey slide dated 23/01/1970.

Secondary Sources:
1. J.A.K. Deane, ‘The Gate lodges of Ulster a gazetteer’ (UAHS 1994), p.87.

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

V. Authorship
X. Local Interest

Evaluation

This attractive lodge, by Thomas Duff, has been extended and refurbished. Although most of its fabric has been replaced it retains much of its character. When considered with the other structures in the Narrow Water demesne, it also has group value.