Gate And Lantern, Ballater Masonic Lodge Including Boundary Wall, 19 And 21 Queen's Road

The Gate and Lantern at Ballater Masonic Lodge, including the boundary wall, is a purpose-built Masonic Lodge constructed in 1896 by William Duguid and Son. It features a single storey and attic with an irregular plan, highlighted by a prominent two-bay central gable on the north (street) elevation and a distinctive tall gabled tower with ball finial detailing in the re-entrant angle to the left. To the right, there is a two-bay single storey and attic extension added in the 20th century. The building is made of pink and grey granite with Aberdeen bonding on the north side and coursed rubble on the south side. It is set within its own grounds, adjacent to Victoria Barracks.

The central two-bay gable is flanked by four-panel timber entrance doors, which have narrow timber pilaster jambs and a narrow rectangular fanlight above, with the left door featuring a datestone. The windows are predominantly four-pane timber sash and case, and the roof is covered with graded grey slate, featuring gable stacks.

Internally, the original Masonic rooms remain largely unchanged. A notable feature is the finely decorated octagonal Royal Arch vault, added in the 1930s, which is accessed by a timber spiral staircase. This vault is adorned with hand-painted figures and symbolic signs on each surface. The staircase is timber-lined with timber treads, and there are four-panel timber doors and some simple iron chimney-pieces.

The boundary wall consists of low granite rubble to the north with rectangular coping, and an iron railing gate with an iron support for the lantern above. The walls to the south, east, and west are made of rubble granite with rubble coping.