Clay Gate Lodge, Mount Stewart, Portaferry Road, Mount Stewart, Newtownards, Co. Down, BT22 2RU

Clay Gate Lodge is a single-storey Gothick gate lodge dating from around 1810, located on the north side of Portaferry Road at the south-east entrance to the Mount Stewart estate, roughly two miles north-west of Greyabbey. The building has been extended and modernised at the rear in recent times.

The front south elevation is symmetrical and constructed in random, oddly shaped basalt rubble. It features a distinctive pinnacled parapet with walls curving up to meet the east and west sides, creating a characteristically theatrical 'toy fort' appearance. Two marginally projecting outer bays flank a central section. Each outer bay contains a pointed arch window with casement frame and tracery to the arch head, topped with a parapet bearing two tall pyramidal pinnacles. The central bay has a pointed arch door opening with a plain sheeted timber door and tracery to the pointed arch fanlight, similar in design to the windows. Both door and windows have plain stone surrounds. The roof is pitched with mineral fibre slates at its lower ends but flat and lead-sheeted at the apex, with cast iron rainwater goods.

The east and west facades show evidence of alteration. The east facade retains a section similar to the right side of the west facade, with a rendered chimney stack, but now has a small lean-to extension. The section to the right of this has been altered and extended, with a modern glazed door and several small window openings. The west facade appears to have been extended and now includes a long rubble-built section with pitched, slated roof becoming flat and lead-sheeted at the apex. A broad casement window sits at the far left, with two smaller sash windows further to the right; part of the facade around this broad window has been rendered. The far right of this facade appears largely original, with a small sash window and parapet with pinnacle (as on the front), concealing the roof. A rendered chimney rises from the parapet, and part of the facade beneath it has been patched in modern brick. Curved rubble estate walls adjoin both the east and west sides of the lodge.

The lodge appears contemporary with other Gothick lodges within the Mount Stewart estate, all probably dating from around 1810. It is recorded on the Ordnance Survey map of 1834. The building is part of the Mount Stewart estate and has group value with other similar structures on the property.