Former Dunleath Arms, 72A Main Street, Ballywalter, Newtownards, Co. Down, BT22 2JP

Former Dunleath Arms

This large single-storey former hunting lodge and public house was built in 1902 on the west side of Main Street in Ballywalter. It was designed by architect W.J. Fennell for the 2nd Lord Dunleath and constructed by A. Gordon of Newtownards. The building exemplifies the Arts and Crafts and English Domestic Revival style.

The entire structure is finished in roughcast and rendered with a dominating red rosemary tile roof featuring decorative clay ridge tiles and clay finials to the rear gables. The east-facing front elevation is asymmetrical, presenting a single storey with dormered attics beneath the expansive roof, which projects forward to form a timber veranda. At the centre of the elevation stands a wide arched entrance within an open timbered gabled porch. Two carved harpy-like gargoyle figures are attached to the timber pillars supporting the porch. The porch leads to a courtyard at the rear. The front of the northern section (No. 72A) features two very large multi-sided canted bays beneath the veranda, with a central glazed door between them. The rear returns of both sections, which form the uprights of a U-shaped plan, contain large multi-pane windows, some with segmental arch heads and brick dressings. These returns appear to have been extended somewhat to the rear, though such extensions may be almost contemporary with the original construction. Several flat-roofed dormers punctuate the roofline. The courtyard is divided by a brick and rendered wall, and a low castellated rendered wall fronts the property.

Originally, the building catered for hunting parties visiting Ballywalter Park, with large tea rooms on one side and bar and hotel accommodation on the other. The large bay window to the left of No. 72A does not appear to be original. The building has since been converted to private dwellings, with the property now divided into two separate houses either side of the former courtyard.

W.J. Fennell also designed extensions to the main house at Ballywalter Park and created the west gate lodge.