Gates and walling at Allan Lodge

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

Low rubble garden wall with gateway surrounding the large front garden of Allan Lodge, a late Georgian style house to the E of the Newcastle Road in the centre of Seaforde. Extending from the N and S sides of the house itself is a taller wall (also with gateway) which encloses the rear yard/garden. Though the house itself probably dates from the mid 1800s, the walling may (in part at least) be older.

The walls are low (less than one metre) and in fieldstone rubble with rough coping. To the S of centre of the front wall is the main vehicle gateway, which has two squat, square piers (also in rubble) with concave pyramidal caps in granite.
Extending from the N and S facades of the house are much taller rubble walls which enclose the rear garden and yard. The wall to the S has a vehicle gateway with tall rounded piers with cone caps. The gates are modern metal sheeted examples. The gate pier to the N looks to have been reconstructed.

To the E side of the S portion of the yard wall is a large recently constructed garage, with a flat roof.

Historical information

There has been a house on this general site since at least 1834, and probably since the second half of the 18th century. Though the present building may date from the mid 1800s, (perhaps 1836, perhaps the 1860s- it is difficult to be certain), the walls may be older as their plan is indicated on every map from 1834 onwards. However, over the years sections may have been rebuilt, gates replaced; for instance, one of the piers to the rear gateway appears to have been reconstructed (and possibly repositioned) in recent times.

References- Primary sources
1 PRONI D.366 Forde papers
2 PRONI OS/6/3/37/1 OS map, Down sh 37, 1834
3 Deeds in possession of the present owner
4 PRONI VAL/1B/387 1st valuation, Loughinisland, 1836
5 PRONI VAL/1D/3/19 Valuation plan of Seaforde, 1836-38
6 PRONI 2nd valuation, Loughinisland, c.1860 [in print]
7 PRONI VAL/2D/3/14 Valuation plan of Seaforde, c.1860
8 PRONI OS/8/152/1 OS plan of Seaforde, 1904
9 PRONI VAL/3G/95/1 Valuation plan of Seaforde, 1935-56

Secondary sources
1 C.E.B. Brett ‘Historic buildings, groups of buildings….East Down’ (Belfast UAHS 1973), p.28

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

Not listed

Criteria for listing: historic interest

Not listed

Evaluation

Low rubble garden wall with gateway surrounding the large front garden of Allan Lodge, a late Georgian style house of the mid 1800s, to the E of the Newcastle Road in the centre of Seaforde. Extending from the N and S sides of the house itself is a taller wall (also with gateway) which encloses the rear yard/garden. One of the piers to the rear gateway appears to have been reconstructed and possibly repositioned. The walls may in part be older than the house.