Historic Building Details

HB Ref No:
HB24/15/037 B

Address :
Gates at Ardara House, 11 Ballygowan Road, Comber, Co. Down BT23 5PG

Townland:
Comber

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Survey 2:
B2

Date of Listing:
13/04/1989 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:
148/14

IG Ref:
J4509 6877

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Owner Category

Private

Exterior Description And Setting

Cast iron curving gate screen of c.1871-2 situated along the drive to Ardara House, to the W of the Ballygowan Road, SW of Comber town centre. This screen has been relocated. It once belonged to the original main entrance drive to Adara, a drive which disappeared (due to a housing development) in c.1988. The screen is in cast iron with the component sections bolted together in kit form. The gates have railings, with spear-like heads, and a ‘pierced frieze’ to the base. They are enclosed by two square cast iron posts (constructed in the same kit form) with decorative (almost Art Nouveau looking) side panels, and a pierced ogee top with finial. Beyond these, either side of the screen has a curving sweep which culminates (at both sides) in another post as before. The spear-headed railings for the most part match the gates are set on a rendered base. The screen is damaged slightly in places, damage which may have occurred during the process of relocation. The screen is stamped with the name of the manufacturer/foundry, ‘Musgrave Belfast’. To the N side of this screen the ground is largely ‘open’ due to the building of several modern houses with their own drives.

Architects

Musgrave of Belfast (foundry)

Historical Information

This gate screen is probably as old as the original section of Ardara House itself and therefore probably dates from 1871-2. It appears to have been manufactured by a Musgrave of Belfast. In c.1988 it was relocated when the original main drive to Ardara was removed due to a housing development, and it is now positioned half way along what was the ‘tradesman’s entrance’ to the south. References- Primary sources 1 PRONI D.4189/A/2/3 Andrews Papers- damp press letter book with letters from Thomas Andrews concerning Ardara, 1871-72. 2 PRONI OS map, 2nd ed. 1901, Down 10. 3 Sale brochure for Ardara House (Brian Morton & Co., ?c.1988).

Criteria for Listing

Architectural Interest

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

Historic Interest

X. Local Interest V. Authorship

Evaluation

Curved, cast iron gate screen of perhaps c.1871, formerly fronting the main entrance to Ardara House, but relocated in c.1988 half way along what was once a secondary drive. Has group value with Ardara House.

General Comments

Date of Survey

22 April 1999