Clandeboye Lodge Hotel (The George)

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

Set on the western edge of the Clandeboy Estate on the E side of the Estate Road, The Clandeboy Lodge Hotel is composed of the much altered remnants (now two storey) of the picturesque gothic Ballysallagh Primary School (of perhaps c.1858) and a large single storey flat roofed extension. In addition, there is a large detached two storey modern bedroom block to the E.

The original school house is located to the east of the complex. The SW & SE elevations of the original school are visible and are substantially intact, however the NE & NW elevations are now almost entirely obscured by subsequent extensions.

To the left side of the SE elevation is a small gabled open timber framed porch with a slate lean to roof, set on a brick base. The porch gives protection to a pointed arch doorway with chamfered brick dressings. The door has vertical timber sheeting, is painted and has decorative wrought iron strap hinges. To the right is a four light mullioned and transomed window with diamond panes. (much obscured by greenery). To the far right is a large gabled feature with a large centred pointed arch window with a ten light transomed and mullioned window; each light has diamond pattern small glass panes. The gable has a narrow painted barge board set on a chamfered brick eaves (verge) course. Alternating bricks in the main arch have been painted black.

To the right of the SE elevation is a large gabled feature with a full height mullioned and transomed window, as before but with eighteen lights. To the right of this is a further [?four light] mullioned and transomed window. (much obscured with greenery) To the right again is a galvanised steel fire escape stair which leads from a first floor door which is centred in a small gable feature. To the immediate right is a brick wall (some eight feet high) which separates the area from the rear service yard. To the right of the wall the remainder of the wall is finished in smooth render. To the centre of the rendered section is a small windowless flat roof extension. To the right of the gable feature is a tall buttressed chimney.

To the left side of the NW elevation is a further gable feature with mullioned and transomed window [?ten light] all as before (much obscured by greenery). To the left again is a slightly projecting modern brick entrance bay with castellated brick parapets. The remainder of the wall is plain render. A central large pointed arch feature with smooth cement dressing contains an unusual door feature surmounted by a semicircular arched feature window. To the far left is a wall with castellated parapet. To the centre of the wall is a window /door feature almost obscured by greenery. To the far right is a small plain pointed arch door.

The NE wall is plain rendered and has three pointed arch openings to the right side. That to the centre is glazed and that to either side contains double fire escape glazed doors. To the far right is the entrance to the service yard.

The gables are finished with smooth stone copings. The roof is finished with asbestos slate with [?fire clay] batten roll ridge tiles. There are a number of decorative ceramic tile features to the original brickwork. A number of ‘string courses’ are highlighted but these may be simply painted.

To the E of the main complex is a large sympathetically designed bedroom block. (The Lodge)

Historical information

The original school house around which this restaurant has been constructed was built by Lord Dufferin in c.1858. William Burn submitted designs for the school in 1850 and a further design was commissioned from Benjamin Ferrey in 1854, but neither plan was executed and the architect of the school as it was built is uncertain.

In the mid 1970s the school was converted to licensed premises and was considerably extended in the process with large function rooms added. The lodge bedroom block was constructed in 1992-4 to designs by Alan Cook Architects.

References- Primary sources
1 PRONI OS/6/3/1 OS maps, 1st rev., 1858, Down 1.

Secondary sources
1 Marcus Patton ‘Bangor, An Historical Gazetteer’ (UAHS Belfast 1999), p.49.

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

Not listed

Criteria for listing: historic interest

Not listed

Evaluation

A modern hotel complex built around a picturesque gothic, single storey red brick school of c.1858. The original building is still discernible but does not have sufficient architectural or historic interest to warrant listing.