Lodge at Castle Dobbs

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

Detached three-bay single-storey gate-lodge, built c. 1830, located to north entrance of Castle Dobbs estate. Rectangular-on-plan with single-storey return to south and flat roofed and lean-to extensions to east.

Roofs are hipped and natural slated with deep overhanging eaves; clay ridge tiles; single rendered chimneystack with replacement pot. Walling is smooth rendered. Windows are square-headed timber framed dipartite 4/4 sliding sash separated by timber mullions; painted masonry sills.

Principal elevation is symmetrical (facing north); central entrance consists of recessed semi-circular niche containing vertically sheeted timber entrance door at left; flanked by pair of simple columns supporting lintel. Outer bays each contain single window. Abutted at left by flat roofed extension containing casement window and door, and lean-to containing 4/2 sliding sash window.

East elevation is abutted by extensions containing single vertically sheeted door and timber casement window; abutted at right by return containing three timber casement windows.

South elevation is abutted by return.

West elevation is blank; abutted at right by return containing three timber casement windows.

Set at north entrance of Castle Dobbs. Estate rubble boundary wall with rounded coping at west; estate accessed through pair of square rockfaced granite pillars with castellated coping supporting pair of wrought iron gates.

Roof: Natural slate
Walling: Smooth render
Windows: Square-headed timber framed dipartite 4/4 sliding sash
RWG: Cast-iron half-round gutters and round downpipes

Historical information

A building similar in plan and orientation is shown on the first edition OS map of 1832, cited as ‘Gate House’ in the second edition OS map of 1857.

The Townland Valuation of 1836 records a dwelling house and offices, owned and occupied by Richard Dobbs Esq. The building is valued at £ 46 14s, later revised to £53.

Griffith’s Valuation of 1859 lists a house, office, gate lodge and land, initially valued at £45, later revised to £12 5s. An accompanying note states “the old farm lot & offices have been pulled down & the new ones built…the amount in the old book to be altered”.

Valuation Revisions from the 1870s record the occupier as Conway Dobbs, held ‘in fee’. The valuation is £120, revised in 1878 to £128. In 1886 the occupier changes to Montague Dobbs. In 1904 the gate lodge entry is crossed out and changed to [S] house. It is at this time that a ‘gardeners house’ is entered in the description. A note reads ‘gate lodge deducted in 1904’; the lodge can be found entered separately below, occupied by William Snoddy, and valued at £3.

A smaller house is also annexed from the main estate valuation at this time, occupied by Jacob Johnston, leased from M.W. Dobbs, valued at £2 10s. It is not clear which building this refers to, although it may be the smaller lodge.

In 1914 the entry for ‘Castle Dobbs’ lists a house, office, steward’s house, gardener’s house and land. The building valuation is £125, and the gate lodge is recorded as occupied by Johanna Holt, and then by John Bowes in 1915.

References

Primary Sources:

1. PRONI OS/6/1/53/1 - First Edition OS Map (1831-2)
2. PRONI OS/6/1/53/2 - Second Edition OS Map (1857)
3. PRONI OS/6/1/53/3 - Third Edition OS Map (1901-2)
4. PRONI VAL/1/A/ 1/53 - Townland Valuation Map (1836)
5. PRONI VAL/1/B/119 - Townland Valuation Fieldbook (1836)
6. PRONI VAL/2B/1/16 - Griffiths Valuation Fieldbook (1859)
7. PRONI VAL/12/B/7/18 A-F - Valuation Revisions (1864-1929)

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

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

Criteria for listing: historic interest

V. Authorship
X. Local Interest

Evaluation

A detached three-bay single-storey gate lodge, built c. 1830, located to north entrance of Castle Dobbs estate. The symmetrical cottage is simply detailed in a classical style. It is well preserved, despite being extended in recent years. The gate-lodge remains a fitting entrance to the estate and makes a postive contribution to the architecture of this important estate group.

General comments

This record has been renumbered as part of a group - previously HB22/13/003.