Gate lodge at Downshire Hospital, Ardglass Road, Downpatrick, Co Down, BT30 6RA

Gate lodge at Downshire Hospital

This single-storey Italianate gate lodge stands on the east side of the main drive to Downshire Hospital, north of Ardglass Road on the south-east outskirts of Downpatrick. It dates from approximately 1865 to 1869, coinciding with the construction of the former Down County Lunatic Asylum (now the hospital itself), and may have been designed by County Surveyor Henry Smyth, who built the hospital. The lodge was significantly extended to the south and rear in the mid 1900s.

The asymmetrical west-facing front elevation is dominated by a large gable porch projection left of centre. This porch has a relatively recent partly glazed door with semicircular fanlight and moulded surround at its front, and small roundel windows with moulded surrounds to its short north and south faces. To the left of the porch is a single window with modern frame and moulded surround. The right side of the front elevation has been extended and now contains two similar windows with a doorway between them, featuring a door with rectangular fanlight.

The north elevation features a projecting gabled bay similar in size to the front porch, centred with a semicircular-headed sash window (with Georgian panes, 7/6 configuration) to its north face and small roundels either side. The south elevation contains a similar gabled projecting bay in handed fashion, now obscured by thick shrubbery. The rear consists of two irregular gables now linked together. The left (south) gabled section is not original and has two flat arch sash windows. The right gable contains a recent-looking glazed door and accompanying sidelight sash window, with a semicircular-headed sash window to the right.

The façade is constructed largely in brick, now painted cream, which was undoubtedly originally unpainted to match the hospital's red brick. A rendered sill course, eaves course, and plinth appear on much of the façade, except the south gabled section to the rear, which appears to be a later addition. The entire roof is slated with an overhang and plain barges on all sections except the south gabled rear section, which has shaped barges. Two rendered chimney stacks feature a cornice course and plinth. The building has cast iron rainwater goods.

The original structure was symmetrical but was extended to the south and rear in the mid 1900s. In recent times the building has been used as a hostel. A high painted brick wall projecting from both rear gables encloses a small rear yard containing a WC.