Entrance Screen, Baronscourt, Newtownstewart, Co Tyrone, BT78 4EZ

Entrance Screen at Baronscourt, Newtownstewart

This concrete and wrought-iron gate screen was erected around 1920 at the north (Largybeg) entrance to Baronscourt Demesne. It is attached to the Newtownstewart Gate Lodge and forms part of the estate's entrance complex.

The screen consists of a central pair of square piers with corniced caps and urn finials, supporting double decorative wrought-iron gates. These are flanked by pedestrian gates on either side and two further wrought-iron screens, all supported on smaller piers with ball finials and set over a concrete plinth. A concrete screen wall extends to the west end, with the lodge positioned to the east.

Although the screen retains an unspoiled setting and is generally well proportioned, close inspection reveals that the concrete and ironwork detailing is not of high quality. The screen is currently unused and located some distance from the public road, accessed by a tarmac avenue. Woodland borders the site to the east and south, with an expanse of grass lawn to the north of the lodge. When in use, the estate road within the gate screen is tarmac with grassed verges on either side, leading past Lough Catherine towards the main house.

The screen does not appear on Ordnance Survey maps until 1907, indicating it was erected after that date. It is thought to have replaced an earlier screen around 1920. An earlier description by Dean characterised it as "a rather incongruous range of classical pillars with ball finials to the outer ones and urns to the inner carriage pillars", with "good cast ironwork between".