Woodvale Park, Gate Piers, Gates and Railings, Woodvale Road, Belfast

Four sandstone gate piers in Gothic revival style dated 1887 to designs by the English architect J. C. Bretland which form the main entrance to Woodvale Park facing onto the W side of Woodvale Road. The park is of irregular plan form with a further gateway to N, and two modern gates to E and S. The main gateway fronting onto Woodvale Road consists of four identical gatepiers of regular-coursed sandstone: rock-faced red Corsehill sandstone with plain Giffnock sandstone quoins and dressings. Square section piers with engaged colonettes at each corner and moulded plinth course. Pyramidal stone pier caps have lancet gablets to each face and are topped by stone finials. The gate piers support the original wrought iron gates: a central double gate for vehicular entrance flanked by a narrower pedestrian entrance to each side. Twisted railings to gates with decorated top and bottom rail having flower motif and ball railing heads. The railings to Woodvale road are twisted with plain rectangular section top rail, flower motif and ball railing heads. Swan-neck dog-leg support to rectangular section standards topped with ball finials. The N gateway, fronting onto Ballygomartin Road, consists of four identical gatepiers of ashlar Portland limestone and dating from c.1900. Square section piers, panelled to N and S faces with moulded plinth course and caps supporting the original iron gates: a central double gate for vehicular entrance flanked by a narrower pedestrian entrance to each side. Rectangular section railings on dwarf wall with saddle-back coping. To the S, fronting onto Woodvale Avenue, is a modern double metal gate supported on metal posts. Plain rectangular section railings with curved railing heads on dwarf wall with moulded coping. To E, fronting onto Ballygomartin Road, is a pedestrian iron gate supported on square section cast iron posts. The park is laid out mainly in grass and includes a number of facilities such as a playground, football pitches, bowling greens and pavilion, outdoor gym and community garden. A bandstand dating from c.1900 is located to the SE of the main gateway. Setting: The park is bounded by Ballygomartin Road to N, Woodvale Road to E and Woodvale Avenue to SE. Trees and hedges form the boundary to the neighbouring industrial estate to W. There is a two storey pitched roof brick built gate lodge to SE of the main gateway fronting onto Woodvale Avenue, thought to date from the late 1900s. Materials: Walling Sandstone to Main Gateway/ limestone to N gateway