Gate Lodge

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

Detached single-storey redbrick and stucco former gate lodge, built c.1885 with pair of canted bays. Square on plan facing south, extensively renovated c.2006, set perpendicular to the east entrance of Wallace Park.

Hipped natural slate roof with roll-moulded terracotta ridge tiles, rolled leaded hip ridges surmounted by timber finials and two decorative redbrick chimneystacks with stucco cornice and clay pots. Ogee moulded cast-iron guttering on deep moulded eaves cornice above continuous string course. Redbrick walling laid in Flemish bond, moulded plinth course with rusticated stucco up to continuous moulded sill course. Square-headed window openings with architrave surrounds and replacement 6/6 timber sash windows.

Front south elevation has a central three-sided canted bay and a square-headed opening to the east with inset doorcase. Architrave surround to door opening with replacement flat-panelled timber door.

West side elevation has an off-centre shallow three-sided canted bay with lead-lined roof. Paired window opening to the left of bay with single architrave surround and central render mullion.

Rear elevation has a lead-lined flat-roofed central section abutted by tall redbrick wall enclosing small rear yard.

East side elevation has a symmetrical composition of two window openings fronting onto Belsize Road.

Setting:
Set within the grounds of Wallace Park perpendicular to its east entrance enclosed to the road by rock-faced wall and replacement iron railing with matching entrance sweep having replacement iron gates and railings. Small front garden fronting onto the bitmac road within the park enclosed by hedging.

Roof Natural slate
RWG Ogee moulded cast-iron
Walling Redbrick / rusticated stucco
Windows Replacement timber sash

Historical information

In November 1882 the Lisburn Town Commissioners resolved to accept the gift of a public park from local landowner Sir Richard Wallace. In July 1884 it was reported that , ‘for several months past a number of men have been employed by Sir Richard Wallace in levelling and laying out the grounds...they afford means of recreation to all classes, and more especially to the large numbers of operatives, who, pent up in the mills and factories during the day, enjoy the pure air for some hours every evening and thus add immensely to their general stock of health.’ (Belfast Newsletter)

By August 1887 the work had been completed and it was noted that Sir Richard Wallace had, ‘expended a very considerable amount in ornamenting, railing-in, and making roads through the grounds, as well as erecting very commodious residences for the caretakers’. (Northern Whig)

The current building is one of a pair of lodges at each end of the park, intended to provide accommodation for park wardens. Dean dates the pair to 1884 and states the architect to be John MacHenry. MacHenry was surveyor to the Hertford estates and is thought to have designed Lisburn court house, demolished in 1971, and to have been supervising architect for Sir Richard Wallace’s Lisburn residence Castle House, both erected in the early 1880’s. The ‘Lodge’ is first shown, captioned, on the third edition OS map of c1900. Dean notes that ‘The ogee entrance sweep lost its railings and four fine cast iron piers for the war effort.’ (Dean, p.30, www.dia.ie)

Both lodges were extended c1910 and were renovated c2005 as domestic dwellings for Hearth Housing Association. (Dean, p.30; owner information)

References:
Primary Sources

1. PRONI OS/6/1/68/3 – Third Edition OS Map c1900
2. PRONI OS/6/1/68/4 – Fourth Edition OS Map 1921
3. PRONI OS/6/1/68/5 – Fifth Edition OS Map 1939
4. Belfast Newsletter, 21st November, 1882
5. Belfast Newsletter, 25th July, 1884
6. Northern Whig, 17th August, 1887

Secondary Sources

1. Dean, J. A. K. “The Gate Lodges of Ulster: A Gazetteer.” Belfast: Ulster Architectural Heritage Society, 1994.
2. Owner information

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

Detached single-storey redbrick and stucco former gate lodge, built c.1885. The decorative detailing on this former gate lodge matches its counterpart to the West entrance of the park, with which it has group value. Both now in residential use with much of their original external character intact, they have historical interest for the local community. Recently renovated, the modest scale and decorative elevations of the gate lodge are enhanced by the setting of Wallace Park. They were both constructed to house caretakers to look after the park donated by Sir Richard Wallace.