The Lodge And Attached Gatepiers, Gates And Railings

This is an 1850s gate lodge, potentially with earlier origins. It is constructed of Flemish bond brick with limestone ashlar dressings, and has a stone slate roof with moulded kneelers to the ashlar copings. Brick stacks have moulded stone capping. The building is in a Tudor Gothic Revival style, with an asymmetrical design and plan.

The east elevation has an ashlar entrance porch with a Surman family badge above the chamfered door surround, which has a label mould and moulded coping, and a studded inner door. The porch is flanked by blank stone loopholes shaped like crosses. The north elevation has a gable facing to the left with a two-light stone cross window with a label mould. A square bay window below has moulded string to the parapet and a similar label mould, with a 1:3:1 fenestration pattern. A gabled dormer window sits above a two-light window on the right, featuring similar fenestration. A single-story service bay to the right has a central doorway with an ashlar surround and an ashlar coping to the parapet. Replacement glazing is present on the south elevation. The interior has not been inspected.

Projecting north from the northwest corner and returning eastwards along the south front, a stone-coped dwarf wall with spear-headed railings and double gates encloses a small garden area. Attached to the east of the railings are two pairs of rusticated ashlar piers flanking ornate pedestrian gates and double carriage gates leading to the entrance drive of Swindon Hall.

This is a well-executed mid-Victorian gate lodge, notable for its studied asymmetry, high-quality detailing and associated railings and gates.