Whitegate Lodge, Shane's Castle Park, Antrim, Co Antrim, BT41 4NE

Whitegate Lodge

Whitegate Lodge is a rectangular single-storey lodge of three bays, rendered with a slated roof. It faces east towards a tarmac driveway within the grounds of a large estate.

The east elevation is symmetrical, with a central entrance set in a shallow gabled breakfront. The roof is of Bangor blue slates laid in regular courses, with two square-section chimneys of plain block cornices set at 45° to their bases; the stonework appears to be rhyolite. The walls are smooth rendered, lined and blocked, with rusticated quoins at the extremities, a projecting plinth, and projecting eaves course. Cast iron gutters and downpipes are fitted. The two side bays each contain one window: these are modern rectangular timber fixed lights with top-hung vents, set in chamfered reveals with projecting concrete cills and label moulding over. The central bay projects forward with similar quoins and oversailing eaves featuring elaborate openwork timber barge boards decorated with cusped tracery incorporating quatrefoil motifs.

The entrance comprises a four-centre arched opening containing an original rectangular timber six-panel door surmounted by an arched three-pane fanlight with moulded timber frame, set in chamfered reveals and topped by label moulding. Above the doorway in the apex of the gable is a relief carved painted stone armorial plaque. A concrete ramped doorstep leads to the entrance.

The south gable is rendered to match the front elevation, with similar elaborate decorative timber barge boards to the overhanging eaves. A single window similar to those on the entrance front is set here. Projecting forward at the left-hand extremity is a small later extension with a single-pitch roof that continues the slope of the main pitch to the rear. This extension has smooth rendered walls and a course of ridge tiles to the top of the east wall, with a flush verge to the south wall.

The rear elevation originally had a full wall now largely obscured by a lean-to extension. The main roof is slated as before; the extension roof follows the same pattern at a shallower pitch. The walling is of roughly coursed basalt rubble with a projecting brick eaves course and brick block dressings to windows, with smooth rendered finish to the right-hand end containing the rear doorway and one window. Windows are modern rectangular timber fixed lights and top-hung vents, and a casement, with projecting concrete cills except for one window to the left of the doorway which has a rhyolite cill. The rear doorway contains a modern rectangular flush timber door with glazed panel set in plain reveals, with a concrete step. Cast iron gutters and downpipes are fitted. The north end wall of the lean-to extension is blank, smooth rendered, lined and blocked, with flush verge to the roof; cast iron gutter returns across from the rear elevation with a cast iron downpipe from the main roof.

The north gable resembles the south gable but carries an armorial plaque of similar design in the apex.

The lodge stands in a rural setting within the estate grounds, positioned end-on to the main road and set back slightly within its own garden, facing onto the estate driveway. Across the front is a small garden enclosed by original iron railings with a small gate opposite the lodge entrance. A concrete path leads to the front entrance with stony paths to each side within the garden. The front garden is closed at the south end by a hedge and at the north end by a basalt rubble estate wall.

To the rear is a yard bounded to north and south by basalt rubble walls, with a modern corrugated iron gate on the south side. A gabled basalt outbuilding and open shelter close the west side of the yard. The outbuilding is rectangular with a roof of Bangor blue slates in regular courses and walls of roughly coursed basalt rubble. It has two rectangular sheeted timber doors and a large pair of sheeted timber garage doors, all set in roughly cemented reveals. Two windows are present: one rectangular timber six-pane fixed light in a wide exposed frame with timber cill to the left-hand end, and one modern rectangular bottom-hung vent with similar frame and cill to the right. Cast iron gutter and downpipe serve the outbuilding. The end gables are of basalt rubble. A sheeted timber door is set in the rear wall. The outbuilding has a lean-to modern garage of timber and corrugated iron attached to its right-hand end, with an open timber and corrugated iron shelter to the right of that. An orchard lies to the rear of the outbuilding.

The main gateway comprises a pair of large plain iron gates mounted on rectangular openwork iron piers with decorative panels to front and rear. Close to, but not connected with, these piers are ironwork stays extending railings to each side of the gateway, curving forward at the outer extremities to abut square masonry end piers. The ironwork stays are topped with cast iron urn finials. The screen to the west incorporates a small pedestrian gate. The end piers are of snecked basalt with rhyolite frieze, moulded cornice and cap. Basalt rubble estate walls extend from the end piers for a considerable distance in both directions.