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

Single storey Italianate gate lodge (to Downshire Hospital) of perhaps c.1869 or slightly later, greatly extended c.mid 1900s and with brick façade now painted. The building is set at the E side of the main drive to the hospital, to N of Ardglass Road, on the SE outskirts of Downpatrick. The asymmetrical front elevation faces roughly W. To left of centre of the front elevation is large gable porch projection. To the centre of the front (gabled) face of this is a relatively recent partly glazed door with semicircular fanlight and moulded surround. To the short N face of the porch is a small roundel window with moulded surround. There is a similar window to the S face. To left of the porch is a single window with modern frame and moulded surround. To the right the elevation has been extended and now has two windows (as left) with a doorway in between with door as porch (but with rectangular fanlight). To the right of centre of the N elevation is a gabled bay similar is size to the front porch. This has a central semicircular headed sash window (with Georgian panes- 7/6) to its N face. To either side of the bay is a small roundel as front. The S elevation is similar to that to N in that it has a projecting gabled bay (in handed fashion), however it is now obscured from view by thick shrubbery. The rear elevation consists of two irregular gables which are now linked. The left (S) gabled section is not original. The left gable has two flat arch sash windows. The right gable has a recent looking glazed door and accompanying ‘sidelight’ sash window, to left with a semicircular headed sash window (as N elevation) to right. Projecting from both gables is a high (painted brick) wall which encloses a small rear yard with WC. The façade is largely in brick which is now painted cream (but was undoubtedly originally unpainted- like the hospital itself). There is a rendered sill course, eaves course and plinth to much of the façade (except the S gabled section to the rear- which appears to be a later addition). The entire roof is slated and has an overhang with plain barges (to all sections apart from the aforementioned s gabled section to rear which has shaped barges). Two rendered chimney stacks with cornice course and plinth. Cast iron rw goods.