Gate lodge

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

Detached three-bay single-storey classically styled gate-lodge to Dalriada House (HB21/08/004A), built c.1855, located to west of Shore Road. Lodge is rectangular on plan.

Roof is hipped and slated, higher to north end, with rendered chimney north and east surmounted by simple corbelled coping and replacement pots. Walls are smooth rendered with simple moulded entablature and cornice. Windows are square-headed with painted moulded surround and masonry sill, now blocked.

Principal elevation faces north. Portico to central bay supported on slim Doric columns, surmounted by entablature and triangular pediment. Entrance door central to elevation with cavetto moulded architrave and plinth, flanked by Doric pilasters. Outer bays each have single window.

East elevation has two windows to right.

South elevation has window opening to left, small opening to centre and door and window to right. All openings have plain banded surround. No entablature to wall head, only plain banded cornice.

West elevation has single window to centre, breaking line of entablature.

Setting

Garden to east and south bounded at Shore Road by hedge. Remains of brick outbuilding to south-east corner of site, retaining wall and mature gardens to west, entrance to Dalriada (HB21/08/004A) to north.

Historical information

The lodge is shown on the second edition OS map of 1857. Griffith’s Valuation of 1859, records the building as the gatelodge of Dalriada House (HB21/08/005). The occupier of Dalriada is Philip Johnston, and the property is leased from the Belfast Banking Company. The estate, including house, offices and gatelodge is valued at £135.0s.0d. Dean, in ‘The Gatelodges of Ulster’ (p 9-10) states that the lodge may have been designed by architect Thomas Turner, due to its styling, although there is no evidence of this. He also records the estate was built for the Johnston family, corresponding to the valuation records.

References:

Primary Sources

1. PRONI OS/6/1/57/2 Second Edition OS Map (1857)
2. PRONI VAL/2/A/1/57 -Griffith’s Valuation Map (1859)
3. PRONI VAL/2/B/1/13A -Griffith’s Valuation (1859)

Secondary Sources

1. Dean, J. A. K. 'The Gatelodges of Ulster – a Gazetteer', UAHS, 1994.

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

A. Style
B. Proportion
C. Ornamentation
K. Group value

Criteria for listing: historic interest

X. Local Interest

Evaluation

This symmetrical single-storey gatelodge has a prominent location on the Shore Road, with views to Belfast Lough. The gatelodge, although now derelict and suffering from vandalism (graffiti), is elegantly detailed and classically styled with pedimented entrance porch and mouldings. The lodge makes a positive contribution to the setting of the university, and is indicative of the status of the former residence behind.

General comments

This record has been renumbered as part of a group, and was previously HB21/08/005.