Longwood Lodge, 186 Shore Road, Newtownabbey, Co Antrim, BT37 9TB

Longwood Lodge is an attractively detailed and modestly proportioned single-storey gate lodge of around 1860, all that now remains of the substantial Longwood House, which no longer exists. The lodge is a good example of Classical design and survives as a reminder of the historic character of a locality that has been much altered.

The lodge is a symmetrical two-bay structure, square on plan and facing south, with canted bays to the west and east. It was formerly one of a pair flanking the main entrance to the Longwood Estate, and now stands on the west side of Shore Road. The hipped roof is covered in natural slate with leaded hips and ridges. A chimneystack with a corbelled cap and octagonal pots sits on the party wall between the bays. The eaves are overhanging with half-round metal rainwater goods on a timber fascia.

The walls are painted rendered finish over a projecting contrasting plinth. Pilaster strips run to the corners; those on the principal elevation have moulded capitals, whilst the others are plain. All support a plain projecting cornice. Windows throughout are segmental-headed multi-pane double timber side-hung casements. These sit within segmental-headed recesses (except on the rear elevation) and feature painted masonry sills on scrolled brackets, with contrasting moulded architraves and panelled aprons on the principal and west elevations only.

The principal elevation displays a central segmental-headed entrance opening with a beaded surround, set within a classical porch. The porch comprises Ionic columns and a plain pedimented entablature, all supported on a single stone step. The timber door has a multi-paned glazed top panel over flush bottom panels and brass door furniture. Windows flank the entrance on either side.

The east elevation has a canted bay to the right and a window to the left, with a small window insertion (lacking a sill) between the canted bay and central pilaster. The rear elevation is symmetrical with three openings and a central replacement timber door. The west elevation mirrors the east, but without the window insertion.

The lodge was erected around 1860 by Thomas Jackson, who was employed by Roger Grimshaw to refurbish the main house and replace an earlier gatehouse. The estate had been established in 1772 by Nicholas Grimshaw. The second edition Ordnance Survey map of 1857 shows the lodge standing at the entrance to a long sweeping avenue circumnavigating a large ornamental lake and leading to the substantial house marked 'Longwood'. The south-western boundary of the estate was bounded by spinning mills and mill ponds. According to Griffiths Valuation, the lodge was occupied by George K. Smith of Abbeyhill, with Mary Currell as the immediate lessor. The house and offices were valued at £9.

Robert Grimshaw, for whom the main house was originally built, was a director of the Ulster Railway Company and the Ulster Bank. The family firm operated the calico printing works at Whitehouse. Robert Grimshaw's first directory reference at Longwood appears in 1860, though he had been listed at Whitehouse from 1835.

The lodge is set in a small garden with a patio to the rear. Modern housing borders it to the east, marking the former estate access, now a cul-de-sac. The site is bounded by the main road to the west and enclosed by a modern brick wall.