Gatelodge

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

Small single-storey stucco-rendered gate lodge with hipped roof, constructed c.1860, attributed to architect Thomas Jackson, located at the northern end of the Belmont Hotel site (HB17/07/029A), on S side of Rathfriland Road, Banbridge. It sits behind the gatescreen which consists of panelled tapered masonry piers with pyramidal caps and associated railings with lollipop finials.

Rectangular on plan, neo-classical design with projecting central porch. Natural slate roof covering with black clay ridge tiles. Moulded plastered cornice below overhanging eaves level to all sides. All window openings have moulded plastered surrounds with painted stone cills and painted plinth. Cental stuccoed chimney on ridge with projecting cornice. Timber soffits & eaves to all elevations with rainwater goods now replaced with PVC fittings.

Front elevation (SE)
Fronting onto driveway that leads uphill towards hotel to S.
Three-bay, symmetrical façade with projecting central hipped-roof porch. Porch is flanked by Doric-style pilasters, with equivalent pilasters to each corner. Single window opening either side of porch with replacement fixed-pane timber windows. Replacement timber panelled front door.

Side elevation (NE)
Facing onto Rathfriland Road, behind railings.
Single window opening to centre with replacement fixed-pane timber window.

Rear elevation (NW)
Two blocked-up window openings.

Side elevation (SW)
Facing into hotel grounds. Blind façade, no openings.

Setting:
The gatelodge is located at the northern end of the Belmont Hotel site (HB17/07/029A), on S side of Rathfriland Road, Banbridge
The gate lodge retains its original footprint and boundary walling and gate piers complement the structure. The gate lodge sits behind the original gatescreen which consists of panelled tapered masonry piers surmounted with pyramidal caps and associated railings with lollipop finials. The gatelodge announces the entrance to the landscaped hotel grounds and is of local interest as an important survival of the rich linen heritage of Banbridge.The gate lodge has group value with the Belmont Hotel and the former linen stores set above the gatelodge in their mature landscaped
setting.

Materials
Roof – natural slate with black clay ridge tiles
Walls – stucco plaster
Windows – replacement timber fixed pane, single-glazed / blocked up
RWGs – PVC

Historical information

Belmont House is said to have been built in 1838, according to a datestone (Rankin). However, the house and gate lodge do not appear in the relevant Townland Valuation book (1838), and there is a possibility that the datestone is inaccurate. The earliest written reference to Belmont House, Banbridge appears to date from 1850, giving a probable construction date for house and lodge of c1840-50. The ‘Gate Lodge’ first appears, captioned, on the second edition OS map of 1860. Both house and gate lodge are thought to be the designs of Thomas Jackson, architect of several linen mansions along the Bann River (Rankin, Dean).

The house and gate lodge are listed in Griffith’s Valuation (c1862) with the occupier noted to be Robert McClelland who was also resident in Belmont House. The gate lodge would usually have been occupied, in practice, by a servant. The large-scale map of 1861 shows the lodge with porch to the front elevation and it remains relatively unchanged throughout map editions. However, there was an extension (now gone) to the SW elevation built between 1892 and 1903 which appears to have survived until at least 1986.

Individual occupants of the house are not noted until 1901 when ‘Elizabeth Freeburn’ is recorded as resident. However, Freeburn does not appear in the 1901 or 1911 census and the gate lodge could not be securely identified in these records. At the time of the First General Revaluation (1933) the lodge was occupied by William Finlay and consisted of a two-room rubble masonry and slate building consisting of a bedroom and kitchen and a scullery/WC extension of wood and corrugated iron. The lodge was described by the valuer as a ‘well-built gate lodge in good condition’ valued at £3.15s. A succession of tenants followed Finlay, into the 1950s. Belmont House was listed in 1977 and is currently operating as a hotel, the lodge lying within its grounds, but not currently occupied. The lodge was included on the Heritage at Risk register in 2008, and remains on the register.

Dean (Gate Lodges of Ulster) has identified the lodge as contemporary to Belmont House. He assesses the lodge as ‘somewhat less elegant’ than the main house but a ‘solid Neo-Classical design’.

The linen store located to the south of the gate lodge and to the rear of Belmont House, is first shown on the second edition OS map of 1860 and was possibly constructed at the same time as the main house c1840. Griffith’s printed valuation includes the building as ‘yarn and linen stores’ within the valuation of Belmont House. The store was associated with the bleach mill and greens situated to the N of Belmont House and later with the Belmont Weaving Factory (constructed between 1860 and 1892) which were part of the McLelland/Smyth linen business. The linen store was separately valued at £20 in 1902 and appears to have laid vacant for some years at the turn into the 20th century, before being converted into a row of dwelling houses, known as ‘Belmont View’ c1930.
The building is now derelict but is the only physical remainder of the McLelland/Smyth linen enterprise at this location and, indeed, is one of the few remaining buildings that were solely dedicated to the linen trade to survive anywhere in Banbridge.

References
Primary Sources

1. Newry Telegraph, 9th November 1850, p.3
2. PRONI OS/6/3/27/1 – First edition Ordnance Survey map 1833
3. PRONI VAL/1/B/366, 368A-B – Townland Valuation, Parish of Seapatrick (1838)
4. PRONI OS/6/3/27/2 – Second Edition Ordnance Survey map 1860
5. PRONI OS/6/3/27/3 – Third Edition Ordnance Survey map 1903-1918
6. PRONI VAL/2/B/3/64/A – Griffith’s Valuation c. 1862
7. PRONI VAL/12/B/16/6/A-D – Annual Revisions 1864-1894
8. PRONI VAL/12/B/16/8/A-D – Annual Revisions 1894-1930
9. Census of Ireland (1901/1911)
10. Large-scale maps of 1861, 1892, 1903 and 1986 (https://shop.centremapslive.co.uk/)

Secondary Sources
11. ‘Buildings at Risk Vol. 8’ Belfast: Ulster Architectural Heritage Society, 2008.
12. Dean, J. A. K., ‘The gate lodges of Ulster: A gazetteer’ Belfast: Ulster Architectural Heritage Society, 1994.
13. Rankin, K., ‘The linen houses of the Bann Valley: The story of their families’ Belfast: Ulster Historical Foundation, 2007.

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

R. Age
V. Authorship
X. Local Interest

Evaluation

Attractive single-storey, stucco-rendered gate lodge with hipped roof, constructed c.1860, attributed to architect Thomas Jackson. The gate lodge is located at the northern end of the Belmont Hotel site (HB17/07/029A), on S side of Rathfriland Road, Banbridge. The gate lodge retains its original footprint and boundary walling and gate piers complement the structure. The gate lodge sits behind the original gatescreen which consists of panelled tapered masonry piers surmounted with pyramidal caps and associated railings with lollipop finials.
Despite the loss of the original windows and rainwater goods, this small building of neo-classical design retains original historic fabric and detailing such as the Doric-style pilasters to the projecting central porch. The gatelodge announces the entrance to the landscaped hotel grounds and is of local interest as an important survival of the rich linen heritage of Banbridge.The gate lodge has group value with the Belmont Hotel (HB17/07/029A), formerly called Belmont House and the former linen stores in their mature landscaped setting.

General comments

Previously included in the listing of Belmont Hotel, HB17/07/029A.