Gate Lodge, Stormont Estate, Massey Avenue, Belfast, County Antrim, BT4 3XX

Detached two-storey stone gate lodge and secondary gate screen to Stormont Estate, built c.1932, to the designs of Arnold Thornely. The large gate screen is laid out on an north-south axis fronting onto Massey Avenue. The gate lodge is located behind the curved section to the south with its front elevation facing north 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 with original lead cames and retaining some bronze mechanisms. Symmetrical north 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 and housing an original oak door with raised-and-fielded panels and two incorporated lights. Door opens onto concrete paved footpath and ramp within lawn. Symmetrical east side elevation has a single window to the ground floor set in a shallow breakfront. Rear south elevation is three bays wide and abutted at ground floor level by a tall semi-circular limestone ashlar wall enclosing a small rear yard. Symmetrical west 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. Entrance screen: Symmetrically arranged elaborate entrance screen comprised of central vehicular entrance gates supported on a pair of tall Portland limestone ashlar piers, flanked by pair of pedestrian entrance gate screens. Curved sections of cast-iron railings on limestone ashlar plinth wall extend to either side, interrupted by cast-iron piers having urn finials. Highly decorative cast-iron gates are surmounted by anthemion finials with gilded details. The central piers are surmounted by full Greek Doric entablatures, antefixae and urns. The pedestrian entrances are framed to either end by further stone piers, embellished with elaborate carved panels, antefixae and decorative cast-iron lamps. Setting: Fronting onto Massey Avenue with a bitmac footpath and set down area. Entrance gates open onto a bitmac avenue approaching Stormont Parliament from the west. Roof Natural slate RWG None Walling Portland limestone ashlar Windows Steel casement