Seaforde gate lodge

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

Unusual T-shaped, one and a half storey classical gate lodge of 1833 by Peter Frederick Robinson, with hipped roof Tuscan columned porticos set into the angles to front, and sandstone façade. To the rear there is a high curving yard wall. The lodge is set behind the main (‘Seaforde’) gate to Seaforde Demesne, just N of the small village of Seaforde, c.5 miles W of Downpatrick.

The front façade faces E and is symmetrical. To the centre is a full height projecting gable. To either side of this there is a hipped roof portico each of which is set in the angle made by the gable and other similar projections to N and S. The main entrance consists of a six panel door and is located on the N side of the front projection, set within the N portico. On the adjacent (E facing) wall within the portico is a sash window with Georgian panes (6/6). The portico itself has a hipped slated roof with plain entablature and cornice supported on a Tuscan column to the outer corner and end pilasters.

The portico to the left (S) is identical with the exception that the doorway is not used. To the ground floor of the central projecting gabled bay is a sash window, as before but with a hood above supported on scrolled brackets. Above the window etc. is a frieze panel with tympanum above this.

The S elevation consists of a small single storey section to the left, a gabled bay similar in size to the centre and the S portico to the right. The single storey section has a small sash window with Georgian panes (6/6) and a plain parapet, beyond which is a flat roof now used as an informal balcony. To the left merges this section merges with a high curving wall (see rear elevation). The full height gabled bay has a sash window to the ground floor (as front) with another smaller window to the upper level (3/6), which rests on a sill course.

The N elevation is a mirror image of that to the S. The rear elevation consists of the rear façade of the single storey section to the ground floor, and the ‘main’ building to the upper floor. The single storey section has a central glazed door, with a small window with modern frame to the right. To the upper floor there is a small six pane window. Surrounding the yard to the rear is a high curving wall, rubble-built and largely rendered. To the centre of this is a timber sheeted door.

The façade is in ashlar sandstone with the single storey section rendered. The yard wall is rendered also though some of this has fallen away revealing a rubble construction. Moulded eaves course. Metal rw goods to rear. The roof is slated. To the rear (W) side of the roof there are two pairs of tall, square sandstone chimney stacks.

Historical information

This gate lodge (at the main ‘Seaforde’ gateway to the Seaforde Demesne) was built in 1833 to designs by English architect Peter Frederick Robinson. It stands next to the grand Greek Revival gate to the demesne, also by Robinson.

References- Primary sources
1 PRONI D.366 Forde papers
2 PRONI OS/6/3/37/1 OS map, Down sh 37, 1834
3 PRONI VAL/1B/387 1st valuation, Loughinisland, 1836
4 PRONI OS/6/3/37/2 OS map, Down sh 37, c.1858
5 PRONI 2nd valuation, Loughinisland, c.1860 [in print]
6 PRONI OS/6/3/37/3 OS map, Down sh 37, c.1901

Secondary sources
1 C.E.B. Brett ‘Historic buildings, groups of buildings….East Down’ (Belfast UAHS 1973), pp.28-32
2 J.A.K. Dean ‘The gate lodges of Ulster- a gazetteer’ (Belfast UAHS 1994), p.95

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

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

Criteria for listing: historic interest

W. Northern Ireland/International Interest
Z. Rarity
V. Authorship

Evaluation

Impressive and unusual T-shaped, one and a half storey classical gate lodge of 1833 by Peter Frederick Robinson, with hipped roof Tuscan columned porticoes set into the angles to front, and sandstone façade. To the rear there is a high curving wall which encloses a small yard. The lodge is set at the main (south) entrance to Seaforde Demesne, next to a grand Greek Revival gateway, also be Robinson.