Gun House and Magazine Stores, Orlock Coastal Battery, In the grounds of 25 Coastguard Lane, Orlock, Groomsport, Co Down BT19 6LR

A single storey, flat-roofed concrete structure, rendered and painted, facing northwards, located in the garden of No. 25 Coastguard Lane, Orlock. Largely windowless, a modern partly glazed bay has been added to the seaward elevation, within what was once fully open north eastern bay. This Former gun house which was originally two buildings, has been enclosed and re-roofed to create guest accommodation for the adjacent residence. The building's original setting would have allowed uninterrupted views over Belfast Lough towards Kilroot and the Copeland Islands. This setting is as original to the north and north west, but lands to the rear/south have since been developed into large detached houses whose gardens now overlook the lough. To the north is a National Trust managed coastal path and foreshore over which this site now looks. Visible from the site is DHR 00330:003, a Coast Artillery Searchlight position. Concrete footing/pad partly visible below the building to the perimeter where excavated to the N/NE. The building has had excavation carried out recently to its immediate perimeter which reveal the depth of the concrete walls to be roughly 300-900mm below existing ground level. The mains sewer line runs somewhere to the N/NE of the building; manhole is evident approx 5 - 6m from the original face of the gun house. The building is approached from the south, where the eastern elevation which faces the more recent house becomes the main elevation. This elevation would have originally shown two buildings which have now been covered as one by a timber framed and felted roof. Walls have been rendered and painted. There are three vents visible to the right of a door which spans what was the gap between the stores and the main building. To the north elevation a later 20th C flat roofed addition has been added to enclose what was the opening for the gun. This addition is of no interest, being of recent construction with uPVC sliding double door to left, large uPVC picture window to right and decorative circular light to east. Western elevation is plain, painted render. Southern elevation is partly obscured by planting and is largely plain. Walls: In-situ concrete, rendered and painted Roof: Flat roof felted, set on original flat concrete panelled roof Windows: Modern uPVC RWPs: Modern uPVC