Longwood Lodge

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

A symmetrical two bay single storey rendered gate lodge, built c.1860, formerly one of a pair flanking the main entrance to the Longwood Estate; now located on the west side of the Shore Road. Square on plan, facing south, with canted bays to west and east.

Hipped natural slate roof, leaded hips and ridges; chimneystack with corbelled cap and octagonal pots to party wall between bays; overhanging eaves with half-round metal rainwater goods on timber fascia. Walling is painted rendered over projecting contrasting plinth, pilaster strips to corners, those to principal elevation with moulded capitals, others plain, all supporting plain projecting cornice. Windows are segmental-headed multi-pane double timber side-hung casements; painted masonry sills on scrolled brackets, contrasting moulded architraves and panelled aprons to principal and west elevations only. All windows are set within a segmental-headed recess, except those to rear.

Principal elevation has central segmental-headed entrance opening with beaded surround set within a classical porch; opening is framed by plain pilasters; porch comprises Ionic columns and plain pedimented entablature all on single stone step; timber door with multi-paned glazed top panel over flush bottom panels; brass door furniture. Window to either side.

East elevation has canted bay at right and window to left; there is a small window insertion without sill between canted bay and central pilaster.

Rear elevation is symmetrical, three openings wide with central replacement timber door.

West elevation is as east, without window insertion.

Setting

The lodge is set in a small garden with patio to rear; modern housing to east, bounding the former estate access, now a cul-de-sac; bounded by main road to west, enclosed by modern brick wall.

Roof: natural slate
Walling: Painted smooth render
Windows: multi-pane casements
Rainwater goods: Half round metal

Historical information

Gate lodge serving the earlier Longwood House, originally established in 1772 by Nicholas Grimshaw (Dean p.21). Roger Grimshaw was responsible for employing Thomas Jackson c.1860 to refurbish the house and replace an earlier gatehouse. The second edition OS map of 1857 shows the gate lodge standing at the entrance to a long sweeping avenue which circumnavigates a large ornamental lake and leads to a substantial house marked ‘Longwood’. The south-western boundary of the estate is bounded by spinning mills and mill ponds. Griffiths Valuation lists the occupier as George K. Smith of Abbeyhill and the immediate lessor as Mary Currell. The house and offices are valued at £9.

The First Survey dates it to the second OS map of 1858, details that it was the gatelodge to Longwood, a house built for Robert Grimshaw for himself, but [is] now demolished. Grimshaw was a director of the Ulster Railway Company and the Ulster Bank. The family firm was the calico printing works at Whitehouse. (From Thomas McJean ‘Personal Recollections of the Beginning of the Century’ in U.J.A 1899) Also the first directory reference to Robert Grimshaw shown at Longwood was 1860, although he was listed at Whitehouse from 1835.

References:

Primary Sources

1. PRONI OS/6/1/57/1 -First Edition OS Map (1833)
1. PRONI OS/6/1/57/2 -Second edition OS Map (1858)
2. PRONI VAL2B/1/37A -Griffiths Valuation Fieldbook (1857)

Secondary Sources

1. First Survey Information
2. Dean, J.A.K. ‘The Gate Lodges of Ulster.’ Ulster Architectural Heritage Society. 1994.
3. Irish Architectural Archive. ‘Dictionary of Irish Architects’ [Internet Source] Available from: Accessed 20/05/09

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

A. Style
B. Proportion
C. Ornamentation

Criteria for listing: historic interest

X. Local Interest

Evaluation

An attractively detailed and modestly proportioned single-storey two-bay gate lodge of c 1860, all that now remains of a substantial residence named Longwood, of which no trace remains. The lodge is a good example of an exercise in Classicism that survives as a reminder of the historic character of a locale that is much altered.