Historic Building Details

HB Ref No:
HB26/03/001 B

Address :
Main Entrance Ormeau Park Belfast County Antrim

Townland:
Ballynafoy

---

Survey 2:
B+

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

---

OS Map No:
147/2SW

IG Ref:
J3444 7241

---

Owner Category

Local Govt

Exterior Description And Setting

Main entrance gates to the south of Ormeau Park at Ormeau Road, comprising two sets of cast-iron gates with red sandstone gate screen to either side; constructed c.1895 to designs by W. J Gilliland with ironwork to designs by Thomas Brown & Co. Entrance comprises two pairs of carriage entrance gates at the head of a carriage drive into the park, and two side gates for pedestrians. Red ashlar sandstone gate screens and central gate pier with plinth and corner pilasters; central pier with partially fluted pilasters and ornately carved capital heads; carved wreaths to frieze, surmounted by ornately carved and scrolled corniced sandstone cap with finial. To front and rear of the central pier is a raised carved sandstone panel with the arms of the city of Belfast inscribed “Pro tanto quid retribuamus” (for so much what we shall repay).

Architects

Gilliland, W J

Historical Information

The grand entrance gate piers were completed in 1895 to designs by W J Gilliland, with ironwork by Messrs Thomas Brown & Co (Belfast Newsletter). Ormeau Park was originally the demesne of the Donegalls, being part of the lands in County Down granted to the family by James I in the early seventeenth century. The Donegalls also owned a substantial estate in County Antrim which included all of the city of Belfast. In 1802, the second Marquess of Donegall moved to Belfast, the first of the family to live in the town for almost 100 years, having been forced to leave London because of the enormous debts he had inherited from his father. In 1807 he moved out of Belfast to live in Ormeau Cottage and in 1809 the Ormeau Bridge was built to connect the demesne with Belfast town. (Brett) In the 1820s this modest building was replaced with the Tudor-revival Ormeau House, which stood near the centre of today’s park. The third Marquess, who inherited in 1844, never lived at Ormeau. Despite his debts the Marquess was able to persuade his trustees to grant funds for a lavish new Castle on the slopes of Cave Hill which was completed in 1870, payment being guaranteed by his daughter and son-in-law. (Brett) The contents of Ormeau House were auctioned in 1857 and after fire damage in the 1860s the house was stripped and left to decay. In 1869 the demesne was acquired by Belfast Corporation and the remains of Ormeau House demolished. (Scott) The park opened to the public as a ‘People’s Park’ on Saturday 15th April 1871 under the terms of the Public Parks Act of 1869. This provided for towns over a certain size to raise funds in order to establish public parks for the benefit of the working classes, the nearby Botanic Garden being accessible at that time only to those who paid a fee, or whose fee was paid on their behalf by their employers. (Scott; Belfast Newsletter) At the time of opening there were two entrances with gates, one on the Ormeau Road and one at Ballynafeigh which both appear to have been retained from the former demesne. The park was not fully landscaped at this time although some paths had been set out and planting carried out. In 1873 a competition was announced for the design and layout of the park and this was won by Timothy Hevey, architect of St Colmcille’s, Holywood. The appearance of the park today represents his design with slight modifications to include a golf course and the road along the embankment. (Scott) The present entrance was not installed until 1895, twenty-four years after the park first opened, and was part of improvements carried out in order to improve access to the park for carriages. The entrance comprises two pairs of carriage entrance gates at the head of a carriage drive into the park, and two side gates for pedestrians. The arms of the city of Belfast is carved on a raised panel to front and rear of the central pier. The ironwork was designed by Messrs Thomas Brown & Co and the stonework and general arrangement of the entrance was by W J Gilliland, architect of the Ormeau Bakery in 1888. The cost was £1,000. (Scott; Belfast Newsletter; dia.ie) Annual Revisions did not carry a separate valuation for the entrance gates but the ‘Ormeau People’s Park, offices and gate lodges’ were valued at £500 between 1882 and 1896. The new entrance is first shown on the third edition OS map of 1902. The gate pillars were noted to have suffered some damage following power washing of the stonework in 2002. Some of the carving was eroded and detail lost. (Warke et al) References: Primary Sources 1. PRONI OS/6/3/4/1 – First Edition OS Map 1834 2. PRONI OS/6/3/4/2 – Second Edition OS map 1858 3. PRONI OS/6/3/4/3 – Third Edition OS Map 1902 4. PRONI OS/6/3/4/4 – Fourth Edition OS Map 1920-1 5. PRONI OS/6/3/4/5 – Fourth Edition OS Map 1931 6. PRONI VAL/12/B/43/A/1-45 – Annual Revisions (1863-1930) 7. Belfast Newsletter, 17th April, 1871 8. Belfast Newsletter, 22nd August, 1895 Secondary Sources 1. Brett, C.E.B. “Buildings of Belfast 1700-1914” Belfast: Friar’s Bush Press, revised edition 1985 2. Scott, R “A Breath of Fresh Air, The Story of Belfast’s Parks” Belfast: Blackstaff Press, 2000 3. Warke, P; Smith, B; Savage, J; Curran, J; Stelfox, D “Stone by Stone” Belfast: Appletree Press, 2010 4. www.dia.ie

Criteria for Listing

Architectural Interest

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

Historic Interest

R. Age S. Authenticity V. Authorship X. Local Interest Y. Social, Cultural or Economic Importance Z. Rarity

Evaluation

Two sets of cast-iron gates with red sandstone gate screen located at the south entrance to Ormeau Park in Belfast city centre; constructed c.1895 to designs by W. J Gilliland with ironwork to designs by Thomas Brown & Co. The city’s first true public park, Ormeau park itself represents an important development in the landscape of the city, and the entrance gates are a typical example of the style favoured by the late-Victorians. In good condition, with some recent restoration, the gates and railings are a prominent local landmark and have group value with HB26/03/001B.

General Comments

Please note this record has been renumbered it was previously record as HB26/03/002

Date of Survey

04 July 2011