Ava Cottage

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

A three-bay single-storey Tudor Revival lodge dated 1855 to plans by Benjamin Ferrey and located south of the Belfast road in Ballyrobert. L-shaped on plan with gabled porch projecting from internal angle.

Pitched natural slate roof with blue/black ridge tiles; raised stone verges and kneelers. Plastic rainwater goods. Walls are painted roughcast and smooth render on chamfered plinth. Windows are timber transom and mullioned with lattice glazing in stone surrounds.

The principal elevation faces north; porch with Tudor archway surmounted by sculpted panel containing coronet, D&A (Dufferin and Ava) monogram and the date (1855); door is timber sheeted with cast-iron studs and ornamental strap hinges; blind window to left cheek (right not visible).

The east gable has a single window over which is a blind recess.

The south elevation was not viewed.

The west elevation was not viewed.

Setting

The lodge is set back from the road in mature grounds accessed to north through a large electric steel gate. Bound to all sides by mature hedgerow and trees. Gravelled to front with paved pathway.

Roof: Natural Slate
Walling: Render
Windows: Timber
RWG: uPVC

Historical information

Dated 1855, this former gate lodge is situated at the junction of the Belfast road with the driveway to Lord Dufferin’s house at Clandeboye. Dean attributes it to Benjamin Ferrey who was working for Lord Dufferin at the time, but the basis for the attribution is not clear. (Dean, p.69)

The 'Gate Lodge’ first appears, captioned, on the second edition Ordnance Survey map (1858). Griffith’s Valuation (1856-64) lists a ‘gate lodge and plantation’ valued at £4 later raised to £5 and the property of Lord Dufferin and Clandeboye. Lord Dufferin, in the early 1850s, built two and a half miles of tree-lined driveway to connect his mansion at Clandeboye with Grey Point promontory at the coast and built the current gate lodge at the intersection with the main road. The new station at Helen’s Bay, which opened in 1865, was also built on this driveway. (McConaghy, p.30)

Dufferin inherited the family title and estate in 1841 when he was only 15. In the 1850s he commissioned Benjamin Ferrey to produced some designs for romanticising Clandeboye House but these were not carried out. Ferrey was, however, responsible for a number of smaller buildings on the estate, perhaps including the current gate lodge. By the third edition map of 1900-2 the lodge is captioned ‘Belfast Lodge’ and a ‘Bangor Lodge’ and a ‘Newtownards Lodge’ are also shown. The latter is still in existence. (Patton, p.46; Dean, p.69)

From 1903 the lodge is listed as the residence of Charles Nichol, leased from the Marquess of Dufferin. Valuers notes of 1933 record that the gate lodge becomes a house and garden sometime after this date and the valuation is raised to £10. At this time the accommodation comprises a kitchen, three bedrooms and a scullery and the occupant holds a service tenancy of 27 years. There is no gas or water and the attached ground plan indicates that there is an earth closet in the yard behind the property. Dimensions are given and it is noted that part of the property is now roofed with corrugated iron.

By 2011 a substantial extension was added to rear.

References:

Primary Sources

1.PRONI OS/6/3/1/2 – Second Edition OS map 1858
2.PRONI OS/6/3/1/3 – Third Edition OS Map 1900-02
3.PRONI OS/6/3/1/4 – Fourth Edition OS Map 1919-31
4.PRONI OS/6/3/1/5 – Fifth Edition OS Map 1938-41
5.PRONI VAL/2/B/3/1 – Griffith’s Valuation Map (1856-64)
6.PRONI VAL/2/B/3/1B – Griffith’s Valuation (1856-64)
7.PRONI VAL/12/B/23/7A-K – Annual Revisions (1866-99)
8.PRONI VAL/12/B/23/8A-C – Annual Revisions (1894-1923)
9.PRONI VAL/3/D/4/17H/9 –Valuer’s RV Binder (1933-57)

Secondary Sources

1.Dean, J. A. K. “The Gate Lodges of Ulster: A Gazetteer.” Belfast: Ulster Architectural Heritage Society, 1994.
2.McConaghy, J.W. And E.M. “A Light for the Road, Ballygilbert Presbyterian Church 1841-1991” Belfast: Ballygilbert Presbyterian Church, 1991
3.Patton, M, “Bangor, An Historical Gazetteer” Belfast: Ulster Architectural Heritage Society, 1999

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

Not listed

Criteria for listing: historic interest

Not listed

Evaluation

A three-bay single-storey Tudor Revival lodge dated 1855 to plans by Benjamin Ferrey with late 20th century alterations and additions. Originally built as part of the Clandeboye estate. Recent renovations, including the raising of the roofline at the west wing and the removal of the diagonally set chimneystacks, as well as the inappropriate extension have resulted in the loss of much historic fabric and its character has been seriously compromised. The lodge has some interest as part of the estate but no longer meets the statutory and policy tests as a building of special architectural or historic interest.

General comments

Included in Helen's Bay Area of Village Character