Survey Data
Reg No
41303170
Rating
Regional
Categories of Special Interest
Architectural, Artistic, Social
Previous Name
Saint MacCartan's Catholic Cathedral
Original Use
Gate lodge
In Use As
Gate lodge
Date
1880 - 1890
Coordinates
267887, 333368
Date Recorded
03/10/2011
Date Updated
--/--/--
Description
Detached three-bay single-storey gate-lodge, built c.1890, facing east, with gable-fronted porch to central bay, single-bay single-storey gabled return to rear, lower single-bay single-storey cell to north-west angle,and with canted bay window to south gable. Pitched natural slate roof with cut-stone copings with carved sandstone finials and skew-blocks, hooped terracotta ridge tiles, finial of wrought-iron to gable of return, and hipped slate roof to lower part. Carved sandstone eaves course, ashlar sandstone chimneystack with terracotta pots, profile guttering, square-plan downpipes and holderbats of cast-iron. Squared, coursed tooled rock-face sandstone walls with ashlar block-and-start quoins, and dressed sandstone plinth course. Square-headed window openings, shouldered to front and south elevations, with block-and-start sandstone surrounds, chamfered reveals and horned timber sliding sash windows, one-over-one pane except to window of north gable which is two-over-two pane. Paired openings to west elevation with carved iconography with shield motif and religious busts within series of three craved pointed arches and having sandstone hood-moulding over. Canted bay window has roll moulding to window heads, and carved episcopal heraldry and inscription 'PRO DEO ET PATRIA' within trefoil frame with hood-moulding. Shouldered square-headed door opening with carved timber panelled door, with roll-moulded lintel and moulded shoulders, and trefoil-headed stained-glass overlight, all within pointed-arch recess with carved sandstone hood-moulding. Set with grounds of Saint Macartan's Cathedral.
Appraisal
This gate lodge is an attractive and well designed architectural component of a larger group that includes Saint Macartan's Cathedral, bishop's house, and an associated elaborate gateway. Use of skilled stone masonry and ornamentation is typical of gate lodge architecture where the status of the overall complex determines that even smaller buildings adopt the high architectural order of the group, and the sculpted details are a particularly interesting feature. The building survives in excellent condition complete with excellent intrinsic architectural fabric and detailing.