Gate Lodge, Gates and Screens Stormont Estate, Upper Newtownards Road, Belfast, County Antrim, BT4 3XX

Detached two-storey stone gate lodge and principal gate screen to Stormont Estate, built c.1932, to the designs of Arnold Thornely. The large gate screen is laid out on an east-west axis fronting onto the Upper Newtownards Road framing the long avenue to Stormont Parliament. The gate lodge is located behind the curved section to the east with its front elevation facing west onto the avenue. Gate Lodge: Pyramidal roof with original gauged slate and rolled leaded ridges all surmounted by a stepped Portland limestone ashlar chimney having clay pots. Blocking course to eaves and lead-lined drip cornice framing the upper storey. Smooth Portland limestone ashlar walling with continuous cornices over each floor and shallow corner pilasters. Square-headed window openings with shallow recessed surrounds, original steel casement windows throughout, reglazed with applied lead and retaining some bronze mechanisms. Symmetrical west front elevation is two windows wide with a central shallow breakfront having a square-headed door opening executed in Portland limestone with architrave and scrolled console brackets supporting a hood cornice. Replacement panelled hardwood door. Door opens onto concrete paved footpath and lawn. Symmetrical north side elevation has a single window to the ground floor set in a shallow breakfront. Rear east elevation is three bays wide and abutted at ground floor level by a tall semi-circular limestone ashlar wall surmounted by spear-headed iron finials enclosing a small rear yard. Symmetrical south side elevation has two windows to the first floor and a shallow bay window to the ground level with three windows each flanked by shallow pilasters. Roof Natural slate RWG None Walling Portland limestone ashlar Windows Steel casement Entrance screen: Symmetrically arranged elaborate entrance screen comprising central vehicular entrance gates supported on a pair of tall Portland limestone ashlar piers, flanked by pair of pedestrian entrance gates. Sections of cast-iron railings on limestone ashlar plinth wall extend to either side, each framed by elaborate limestone piers surmounted by iron lamps. Highly decorative cast-iron gates are surmounted by anthemion finials and gilded details. The central piers are surmounted by full Greek Doric entablatures, antefixae and urns. The remaining piers are embellished with elaborate carved panels, antefixae and decorative cast-iron lamps. Setting: Fronting onto the Upper Newtownards Road, set back slightly with a bitmac front parking and set down area. Entrance screen is aligned with the front of Stormont Parliament Building providing access via a straight bitmac avenue approximately one mile in length.