Manor Lodge

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

Remains of a former two storey dower house (with single storey entrance wing) of c.1800 (or possibly c.1780) situated to the NW of Manor Street, to the rear of the Manor House. This house, fully described in the Archaeological Survey of County Down (see secondary source ref 1), was demolished recently (April/May 1998) and all that remains is part of the (S) front facade which has lost its Doric columned entrance porch and is in an overall badly dilapidated condition.

The writers were informed that it is hoped to restore the front facade and rebuilt the rear in sympathy with the front.

Historical information

The Archaeological Survey of County Down dates the Manor Lodge to c.1820, however, a building matching the (original) plan of the building is shown on a Map drawn up between c.1771 and 1790 (probably c.1780). It may have been built as a dower house for the possibly for the wife of Daniel De la Cherois who appears to have rebuilt the neighbouring Manor House in the 1770s. As Daniel died in 1790 then any dower house would necessarily date during or after this.*

In latter years (post 1950 at least) the Manor Lodge housed a technical school and served as a youth club when first surveyed in 1973. By 1998, however, the dangerous condition of the building resulted in the demolition of the whole structure apart from the front facade.

The writers have been informed that the front facade will be restored and incorporated into a new sympathetically designed building.

*A handicap encountered during investigations of the history of many buildings within Donaghadee is the fact that the bulk of the De la Cherois estate papers are still within private hands and not available for consultation. A catalogue of the papers is currently being undertaken by Anthony Malcomson of PRONI, but it is unclear whether permission will be given for the transcription of documents.

References- Primary sources

1. ‘A map of the town of Donaghadee...’ [c.1771-90]. [This map was prepared for Daniel De la Cherois, who inherited much of the town and its hinterland in 1771. As Daniel died in 1790, the map can thus be dated to some time between 1771-90. At some point someone has written on the map ‘about 1780’, a date which may be accurate.]
2. PRONI VAL 1B/32 p.9 1st valuation, Donaghadee parish, Donaghadee, c.1836. [See also accompanying town plan.]
3. PRONI OS Maps 1st rev. 1858-60, Co. Down 3.
4. PRONI 2nd (‘Griffith’s’) valuation Donaghadee parish, Donaghadee, 1863. [The town plan for the 2nd valuation is not available at PRONI and therefore it is difficult to match the properties listed in the valuation with actual buildings.]
Secondary sources
1. Hugh Dixon et al Historic buildings, groups of buildings, buildings of architectural importance in Donaghadee and Portpatrick (UAHS 1977), p.18.

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

Not listed

Criteria for listing: historic interest

Not listed

Evaluation

Now largely demolished two storey, hipped roof, Georgian house perhaps of c.1780-1800, formerly attached to the Manor House. Only the badly dilapidated front facade survives.