West entrance gates & twin gate lodges, Portaferry Road, Mount Stewart, Newtownards, Co. Down, BT22 2RU(?)

Pair of single storey, snecked rubble-built, Georgian Gothick 'ink pot' gate lodges of c.1810 set on either side of the gates to the western entrance to the Mount Stewart estate on the east side of the Portaferry Road roughly 2 miles north west of Greyabbey. West lodge - This N section of this lodge is basically rectangular but with octagonal gable ends; there is a rectangular section attached to the S side. The roofs of the two parts follow the plan forms and are of Bangor blue slates with ridge and hip cappings. The N section of the lodge has a tall brick chimney stack now painted a bluish grey colour. Cast iron rw goods. The N elevation of this lodge has two pointed arch windows with ‘Y’ tracery and stone surrounds. There is a similar window to each side of the canted bay to the W (which faces directly out onto the Portaferry Road). The N face of the canted bay to the E has a similar window, with a timber and glazed door set in similar styled opening in face to S. To the S elevation of this lodge is a smaller hipped roof section. On the E face of this section is a window as before, but the wall itself is finished in roughcast render. The W face of this section (which faces directly unto the Portaferry Road) has rectangular window opening (which may not be original) now with modern frame. The estate wall adjoins the S side of this facade. There is a low circular rubble wall attached to the N facade of the lodge, containing a small plant filled garden. East lodge - This lodge is no longer inhabited and appears to used as a store and is largely obscured by greenery, so much so that it is difficult to see the N, S and E elevations. The lodge appears to match the plan of the N section of the west lodge, but has no section to the S. The roof has octagonal hipped ends and is of Bangor blue slates with stone ridge and hip cappings. The only opening now visible is a pointed arch window opening (with frame and surround as above) on the N face of the W canted bay. There is a wrought iron pedestrian gate attached to this face of the W bay also. There is an octagonal stone chimney in the centre of the roof. Between both lodges is a low wall in matching basalt rubble with a gently curving top. In the centre are simple Scrabo stone piers with chamfered caps. On each pier are decorative (electric) carriage lamps supported on wrought iron scrolls. The gates themselves have much fine detailed decoration and are now operated by hydraulic rams.