Ballynahinch gate

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

Wide, low gate screen of perhaps c.1830s or later with iron railings and (relatively) short stone pillars. The gate fronts the ‘Ballynahinch’ entrance to Seaforde Demesne, on the S side of Tannaghmore Road, c.1.5 miles N of Seaforde, 5 miles SW of Ballynahinch.

The screen consists of a wide straight screen, with short curving end walls to E and W. The gateway itself has two square stone gate pillars with panelled shafts with moulded courses above and below. Above the upper course is a panelled frieze above which is a cornice course and a pyramidal cap. The railings behind these consist of decorative iron railings. The gates are similar. The curving end walls each have two pillars, similar in style to those to the gate only shorter. The walls themselves appear to be rendered with stone coping (it was difficult to observe these walls at close range). Much of the screen to the E side is now obscured by greenery.

Historical information

This gateway is shown (along with the lodge) on the OS map of 1834. One assumes that such a set piece lodge would have been accompanied from the outset by a suitable gate screen, and that therefore this screen dates from c.1830. It is difficult to be certain of this, however, for though the pillars are overtly classical and possibly 1830s, the gates and railings look late Victorian. It is possible that the present iron work is a late 19th century replacement of an earlier screen, but that perhaps the stone work is older.

References- Primary sources
1 PRONI D.366 Forde papers
2 PRONI OS/6/3/36/1 OS map, Down sh 36, 1834
3 PRONI OS/6/3/36/2 OS map, Down sh 36, c.1858
4 PRONI OS/6/3/36/3 OS map, Down sh 36, c.1901

Secondary sources
1 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
J. Setting
K. Group value

Criteria for listing: historic interest

X. Local Interest

Evaluation

Wide, low gate screen of perhaps c.1830 or later with iron railings and (relatively) short stone pillars. Though pillars have a classic feel and may date from the 1830s, the gates and railings look late-Victorian. The gate screen has group value with the adjacent gate lodge and the other buildings on the seaforde estate.