Historic Building Details

HB Ref No:
HB26/13/020

Address :
Gate Lodge, Gates and Screens Stormont Estate Upper Newtownards Road Belfast County Antrim BT4 3XX

Townland:
Ballymiscaw

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Survey 2:
A

Date of Listing:
13/03/1987 00:00:00

Date of De-listing:

Current Use:
Gates/ Screens/ Lodges

Former Use
Gates/ Screens/ Lodges

Conservation Area:
No

Industrial Archaeology:
No

Vernacular:
No

Thatched:
No

Monument:
No

Derelict:
No

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OS Map No:
130-16

IG Ref:
J3964 7400

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Owner Category

Central Govt

Exterior Description And Setting

Detached two-storey stone gate lodge and principal gate screen to Stormont Estate, built c.1932, to the designs of Arnold Thornely. The large gate screen is laid out on an east-west axis fronting onto the Upper Newtownards Road framing the long avenue to Stormont Parliament. The gate lodge is located behind the curved section to the east with its front elevation facing west onto the avenue. Gate Lodge: Pyramidal roof with original gauged slate and rolled leaded ridges all surmounted by a stepped Portland limestone ashlar chimney having clay pots. Blocking course to eaves and lead-lined drip cornice framing the upper storey. Smooth Portland limestone ashlar walling with continuous cornices over each floor and shallow corner pilasters. Square-headed window openings with shallow recessed surrounds, original steel casement windows throughout, reglazed with applied lead and retaining some bronze mechanisms. Symmetrical west front elevation is two windows wide with a central shallow breakfront having a square-headed door opening executed in Portland limestone with architrave and scrolled console brackets supporting a hood cornice. Replacement panelled hardwood door. Door opens onto concrete paved footpath and lawn. Symmetrical north side elevation has a single window to the ground floor set in a shallow breakfront. Rear east elevation is three bays wide and abutted at ground floor level by a tall semi-circular limestone ashlar wall surmounted by spear-headed iron finials enclosing a small rear yard. Symmetrical south side elevation has two windows to the first floor and a shallow bay window to the ground level with three windows each flanked by shallow pilasters. Roof Natural slate RWG None Walling Portland limestone ashlar Windows Steel casement Entrance screen: Symmetrically arranged elaborate entrance screen comprising central vehicular entrance gates supported on a pair of tall Portland limestone ashlar piers, flanked by pair of pedestrian entrance gates. Sections of cast-iron railings on limestone ashlar plinth wall extend to either side, each framed by elaborate limestone piers surmounted by iron lamps. Highly decorative cast-iron gates are surmounted by anthemion finials and gilded details. The central piers are surmounted by full Greek Doric entablatures, antefixae and urns. The remaining piers are embellished with elaborate carved panels, antefixae and decorative cast-iron lamps. Setting: Fronting onto the Upper Newtownards Road, set back slightly with a bitmac front parking and set down area. Entrance screen is aligned with the front of Stormont Parliament Building providing access via a straight bitmac avenue approximately one mile in length.

Architects

Thornely, Sir Arnold

Historical Information

The two-storey gate lodge at the Upper Newtownards Road entrance to the Stormont Estate was constructed in c. 1932. The lodge is identical to the lodge at the Massey Avenue entrance (see HB26/13/021) and both were designed by Arnold Thornely (1870-1953), a Liverpool-based architect who was appointed by the Board of Works to carry out the design of Parliament Buildings. Thornely was not only responsible for the four-storey parliament but also for all the gateways and gate lodges, as well as the former Provincial Bank on Massey Avenue (see HB26/13/010). Gallagher states that Thornely’s layout of the buildings and grounds at Stormont ‘represent one of the most outstanding architectural sights in Ireland … the magnificent processional avenue, lined with lime and yew trees, leads the visitor from the main gates, past the statue of Lord Carson, to the foot of the famous ‘sixty steps’ of Parliament Buildings (DIA; Gallagher, p. 76). Parliament Buildings was officially opened by the Prince of Wales on 16th November 1932 and the gate lodges were completed by this time. The Natural Stone Database records that Thornely employed Portland Limestone as the primary material in the masonry of the lodge. The value of the Massey Avenue gate lodge was set at £200 in 1935, however, the identical Upper Newtownards Road Lodge was not included in either the First or Second Revaluations (1956-72), having possibly been jointly valued with the main Parliament Buildings. The Upper Newtownards Road gate lodge was listed in 1987. The NIEA HB Records note that a refurbishment of the gate lodge and screen was carried out in 1997; in that year the original gate screen was repaired and the plinths of the gate screen restored. Dean described the gate lodge as a ‘two-storey cube lodge [with] very steep pyramidal roof finished in Westmoreland green slates rising to a central chimney stack … square leaded lights to windows. Ground floor openings between pilasters, the avenue elevation has a ground floor breakfront containing the entablatured front door.’ As it forms the main entrance to the Stormont Estate, the gate screen at the Upper Newtownards Road entrance is grander than that at Massey Avenue. Dean described the gate screen in the following terms: ‘In Portland stone, grandiose square carriage pillars are surmounted by large fluted urns raised on corniced cappings with acroteria to each corner. Each pillar is flanked by a breakfront with more bas relief and Greek key patterned bands, repeated on the secondary pillars which are crowned by octagonal lanterns. All these Classical motifs are carried through the extensive iron screen and gates’ (Dean, p. 89). References Primary Sources 1. PRONI OS/6/3/5/5 – Fifth Edition Ordnance Survey Map (1938-39) 2. PRONI VAL/12/B/17/5A - Annual Revisions (1923-1929) 3. PRONI VAL/3/B/4/4 – First General Revaluation of Northern Ireland (1935) 4. PRONI VAL/4/B/3/21 – Second General Revaluation of Northern Ireland (1956-1972) 5. First Survey Record – HB26/13/020 (1985) 6. First Survey Image – HB26/13/020 (No Date) 7. NIEA HB Records – HB26/13/020 Secondary Sources 1. ‘Parliament Buildings Stormont: The building, its setting, uses and restoration 1922-1998’ Belfast: Ulster Architectural Heritage Society, 1999. 2. Dean, J. A. K., ‘The gate lodges of Ulster: A gazetteer’ Belfast: Ulster Architectural Heritage Society, 1994. 3. Gallagher, J., ‘Stormont: The house on the hill’ Belfast: Booklink, 2008. 4. Larmour, P., ‘Belfast: An illustrated architectural guide’ Belfast: Ulster Architectural Heritage Society, 1987. Online Resources 1. Dictionary of Irish Architects - http://www.dia.ie 2. Natural Stone Database - http://www.stonedatabase.com//stone_types.cfm?stc=45

Criteria for Listing

Architectural Interest

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

Historic Interest

V. Authorship W. Northern Ireland/International Interest Z. Rarity R. Age S. Authenticity T. Historic Importance

Evaluation

Detached two-storey stone gate lodge and principal gate screen to Stormont Estate, built c.1933, to the designs of Sir Arnold Thornely. Retaining much of the original detailing and retaining the original function, this lodge and screen constitutes one of the most elaborate and ceremonial entrances in Belfast. The fine craftsmanship and loose interpretation of classicism are clearly evident and provide a fitting welcome to Northern Ireland's seat of power. The gate lodge and entrance screen have group value with other listed buildings and statuary within the Stormont estate.

General Comments

Date of Survey

23 January 2014