Gate Lodge, Wallace Park, Magheralave Road, Lisburn, Co. Antrim, BT28 3BE

This detached single-storey gate lodge was built around 1885 to designs by architect John MacHenry, who served as surveyor to the Hertford estates and was supervising architect for Sir Richard Wallace's Lisburn residence, Castle House. The lodge formed one of a pair positioned at each entrance to Wallace Park, which Sir Richard Wallace donated to Lisburn. Both were constructed to provide accommodation for park caretakers and wardens.

The building is square on plan, faced north, with a western section added around 1910. It is constructed of redbrick laid in Flemish bond with stucco detailing. The front elevation features a central three-sided canted bay and a square-headed doorway opening to the west, with an architrave surround and replacement flat-panelled timber door. The roofing comprises natural slate with hipped form, roll-moulded terracotta ridge tiles, and rolled leaded hip ridges topped by timber finials. Two decorative redbrick chimneystacks have stucco cornices and clay pots. Deep moulded eaves cornice carries ogee moulded cast-iron guttering above a continuous string course. The walling features a moulded plinth course and rusticated stucco rising to a continuous moulded sill course. Window openings are square-headed with architrave surrounds; the current windows are replacement 6/6 timber sashes.

The east elevation has an off-centre shallow three-sided canted bay with lead-lined roof. A paired window opening to the left of the bay has a single architrave surround and central render mullion. The west elevation, facing Magheralave Road, presents a symmetrical composition of two window openings. The rear elevation features a lead-lined flat-roofed central section abutted by a tall redbrick wall enclosing a small yard.

The setting lies within Wallace Park grounds, perpendicular to its west entrance. A rock-faced wall and replacement iron railing enclose the property to the road, with a matching entrance sweep bearing replacement iron gates and railings. A small front garden fronting the bitumac road within the park is enclosed by a timber picket fence.

Wallace Park itself was accepted as a gift by Lisburn Town Commissioners in November 1882. By July 1884, work was underway on levelling and laying out the grounds, and by August 1887 the entire scheme was completed. Sir Richard Wallace had invested considerable resources in ornamenting, railing-in, and creating roads through the grounds, as well as in erecting "very commodious residences for the caretakers". The lodge is first shown on the third edition Ordnance Survey map of around 1900. Both gate lodges were extended around 1910 and underwent extensive renovation around 2005 as domestic dwellings for Hearth Housing Association. Prior to this renovation, the lodge had remained vacant and roofless for six years following a major fire. The decorative detailing of this lodge matches that of its counterpart at the east entrance to the park, and together they retain group value. Both buildings now serve residential use while maintaining much of their original external character, with historical and community interest deriving from their connection to the park's foundation and their association with Sir Richard Wallace's investment in Lisburn.