Gate Screen

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

A nineteenth-century sandstone gate screen, built c.1865, located at the former entrance to Seacourt (HB23/14/005A), on the north side of Maxwell Road, now leading to a modern residential cul-de-sac. The lodge was demolished c.2006.

The gate screen comprises a pair of piers at either side of the entrance, flanking alcove ashlar sandstone dwarf plinth walls. Outer circular piers rise from a square pedestal with moulded offset; each is topped by a bell-shaped cap rising to a square plinth which appears once to have supported a finial, now gone. The inner piers are square with carved detail to corners and classically styled moulded caps with square urn finials. All ironwork has been replaced with steel railings and gates.

Setting

Seacourt is set within extensive grounds to the north-west of the gateway, the grounds of which are now mostly occupied by modern housing developments. A formal walled garden remains to west (HB23/14/005B) and there is a lawned terrace with tennis court to north. The original entrance avenue has been blocked but the gateway remains as the entrance to a separate cul-de-sac (Seacourt Gardens).

Piers: Ashlar sandstone
Gates: Steel

Historical information

The entrance gateway appears to be contemporary with Seacourt house itself and Dean and Patton both suggest James Hamilton, possible architect of the house, as designer. (Patton, p.165; Dean, p.93) Dean remarks that the gate screen is ‘innovative’ and ‘beautifully sculpted’. A later gate lodge of c1920 has since been removed, the gateway now providing access to several large detached dwellings, recently built in the former grounds. (Planning appeal ruling)

‘Seacourt’ was built c.1865 for Foster Connor, a Belfast linen merchant. The architect is unknown but James Hamilton and Charles Lanyon have both been suggested. The builders were Henrys who also built the Albert Bridge in Belfast. (Patton, p.165, Information Leaflet)

The house is not listed in Griffith’s Valuation (1856-64) but does appear in the first fieldbook of Annual Revisions dating from 1866, giving a probable start date for construction of c.1865. It is listed in the Annual revisions of 1866 as a house, with out offices and gate lodge added later, buildings initially valued at £80. By 1870 this has been revised to £180, suggesting that the house and outbuildings were under construction during this period. (Patton, p.165, Information Leaflet; Annual Revisions)

Primary Sources

1.PRONI OS/6/3/2/3 – Third Edition OS Map 1901
2.PRONI OS/6/3/2/4 – Fourth Edition OS Map 1919-26
3.PRONI OS/6/3/2/5 – Fifth Edition OS Map 1939
4.PRONI VAL/12/B/23/9A-S – Annual Revisions (1900-1930)
6.PRONI D3642/A/3/3 – Diary recording purchase of Seacourt by SC Davidson in 1895
7.PRONI Will of Foster Connor died 5/12/1881
8.Hunt’s Yachting Magazine, Vol 18, 1869, p.483
9.Journal of Society of Arts, Vol 8, Issue 365-416, p.201, 1860
10.Planning appeal ruling W/2004/0261/F - 8th June 2005

Secondary Sources

1.Dean, J. A. K. “The Gate Lodges of Ulster: A Gazetteer.” Belfast: Ulster Architectural Heritage Society, 1994.
2.‘History of Seacourt’, Information leaflet dated October 1976
3.McCormick, T.J. and Bleakley, Nancy “Sir Samuel Davidson and Seacourt” in Patterson, D.C. ed.“Bangor Life, An Historical View of People, Places and Events in North Down, Volume 1” Bangor Historical Society, 2008
4.Patton, M, “Bangor, An Historical Gazetteer” Belfast: Ulster Architectural Heritage Society, 1999

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

A. Style
B. Proportion
C. Ornamentation
D. Plan Form
H-. Alterations detracting from building
K. Group value

Criteria for listing: historic interest

X. Local Interest

Evaluation

An ashlar sandstone gate screen dating from c.1865, at the former entrance to Seacourt (HB23/14/005A). The screen is distinguished by good detailing, echoing the classical styling of the main house. Its relationship within the group has been much compromised in recent years by cutting off the entrance avenue from the main house, demolition of the gate lodge, replacement of railings and gates with inappropriate modern materials and modern residential development in the grounds. However, it is finely detailed with good craftsmanship and is of significance as the former main entrance to the house.

General comments

Please note this record has been numbered previously HB23/14/006