Eden Lodge

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

Detached four-bay two-storey rough-cast rendered Arts and Crafts house, built 1926, designed by R.H. Gibson, set back slightly to the east of Circular road with its principal garden elevation facing east. Rectangular on plan with full-height canted bays to east; single storey extension to south with gambrel roof, full-height off-centre projection to north.

Hipped Westmoreland natural slate roof with overhanging eaves, terracotta ridge rolls, lead valleys and gablets to the apex. Three abutting gables rising from main pitch to the west elevation, a hipped projection to the north, a pitched single-storey roof to the south with a blind gable and a pair of projecting gables to the east elevation (covering the full-height canted bays) and supported on large timber brackets with timber dowels. All gables have weather-slating in green natural slate, with all ridges finished in terracotta ridge roll. Tall red brick chimneystacks with ogee-moulded cornice, terracotta pots and lead flashing. Cast-iron rainwater goods with decorative box-hoppers having floral motifs.

Painted rough-cast rendered walling with a central square bronze sun-dial to the east garden elevation.

Square-headed window openings with flush mullioned timber window frames having iron casement windows, leaded glazing and no sills. Windows to the ground floor have a projecting terracotta drip course while those to the first floor abut the eaves. A single bipartite window opening to the right of the front entrance has a flush sandstone ashlar surround and central sandstone mullion. The pair of double-height canted bays to the east garden elevation have continuous mullioned windows with weather-slating between floors and a lead drip course to the first floor windows only. The single-storey sun room has a double-leaf iron frame patio door with leaded glazing. All windows have timber dowels and bronze casement stays and latches.

Principal garden elevation (east) is symmetrical; full-height bays to either side, central bay has single window to ground floor and two windows to first floor. French doors to extension.

South elevation is abutted by extension; window at each floor to left side.

West elevation has recessed left bay with window to each floor. Main section has principal entrance to right of centre, offset large window lighting half-landing, and various other windows. .Segmental-headed front door within a deep recess of ruled and lined cement render. Original oak panelled door is glazed to the upper section in decorative green crown glass with a decorative bronze letter box, opening onto a white marble and Kilkenny limestone step. A segmental-headed sandstone ashlar canopy supported on a pair of large sandstone corbels. Door opens onto a red concrete footpath through a small garden area, opening onto the road via an original oak pedestrian gate with timber dowels and cast-iron furniture and hinges on a pair of timber posts.

North elevation comprises main block which has a single ground floor window and projecting north bay which is blank to main face with the exception of a vertically-sheeted timber door set in a square-headed recess; left cheek has two windows to each floor. Door opens onto a concrete platform and steps enclosed by a vertically-sheeted timber balustrade within an enclosed yard set behind a gate screen wall and the front of the garage.

The gate screen wall abuts the north end of the front elevation with painted pebbledash render and concrete coping. A pair of tall piers support an original pair of timber vehicular gates having timber dowels and open grille, with a further pedestrian door of vertically-sheeted timber. The single-storey garage fronts into the small yard to the north side elevation of the house with a hipped natural slate roof and overhanging eaves, cast-iron rainwater goods and painted pebbledash rendered walls. A square-headed vehicular opening has a pair of vertically-sheeted timber doors with a further pedestrian door opening into the rear garden. The south side elevation of the garage has three windows detailed as per the main house and a further square-headed door opening with a vertically-sheeted timber door.

Setting

Set within private landscaped grounds of approximately one acre. The rear elevation has a raised gravel area with stone steps to a large square lawn enclosed on all three sides by mature trees. The west elevation is enclosed to the road by a hedge with vehicular access and a bitmac parking area onto Circular road. An NIE sub-station is positioned within the grounds of the house with a steel gate and concrete wall fronting onto Jordanstown road. The concrete wall c.1980 continues along the entire north boundary of the site. Detached single-storey garage positioned to the northeast of the house behind a gate screen wall.

Roof: Natural Westmoreland slate
Walling: Roughcast rendered and tile hung
Windows: timber frames with iron latticed casements
RWG: Cast-iron

Historical information

The building first appears on the fifth edition map of 1932.

References:

Primary Sources

1. PRONI OS/6/1/57/5 –Fifth Edition OS Map (1932)

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

A. Style
B. Proportion
C. Ornamentation
D. Plan Form
I. Quality and survival of Interior
J. Setting

Criteria for listing: historic interest

V. Authorship
X. Local Interest

Evaluation

This assured Arts and Crafts house, designed by R.H. Gibson in the Voysey style, is unusually symmetrical and relatively restrained in its external detailing. The house maintains its original appearance with all its stylistic features and materials intact, as well as holding on to its large landscaped grounds. Subtle changes to the interior have sympathetically upgraded this home to modern standards without the removal of important detailing. It possesses the essential character of a suburban Arts and Crafts residence, a relatively rare survival.