Survey Data
Reg No
41308062
Rating
Regional
Categories of Special Interest
Architectural, Historical
Previous Name
Blayney Castle originally Castle Blayney
Original Use
Gate lodge
In Use As
Gate lodge
Date
1875 - 1880
Coordinates
282875, 319512
Date Recorded
01/10/2011
Date Updated
--/--/--
Description
Terraced two-bay two-storey L-plan gate lodge, dated 1877, with articulated gables to ends and to breakfront to street elevation. Pitched slate roof with crested black clay ridge, ashlar sandstone chimneystacks to gables with moulded over-sailing courses and stone cornice, ornately carved timber bargeboards, with finials and pendants, collar brace to south gable, and cast-iron ogee-profile gutters fixed to exposed overhanging rafter ends, with cast-iron downpipes. Breakfront has appearance of shallow oriel with paired windows at first floor level and supported on moulded corbelling, and appearance of pier or pilaster at ground floor level, latter with recessed panel having relief date '1877'. Squared rubble limestone walls with ashlar sandstone block-and-start dressings to quoins and to surrounds of openings, and projecting chamfered plinth. Hope monogram to carved sandstone plaque in south gable. Square-headed window openings have sandstone barrel moulding to soffits, stone sills and two-over-two pane timber sliding sash frames with ogee horns. Recessed open porch to south elevation has carved sandstone segmental-headed outer opening with corbels at impost level, and voussoirs above. Square-headed doorway to interior with glazed panelled timber door, fronted by clay-tile floor. Short stretch of squared limestone walling with cut sandstone plinths and copings connect south gable to gate pier of rusticated ashlar sandstone with moulded sandstone plinth and carved cap. Similar wall and pier to south side of gateway connecting to building to south. Curved squared rubble limestone wall with sandstone coping extends from rear of lodge to start of former service route towards rear of Hope Castle Estate, route now narrow footpath.
Appraisal
This former gate lodge associated with the Hope Castle estate slightly predates the fine row of former almshouses to which it is attached. It is embellished with many good architectural details that link it visually to the almshouses. The attention to detail is evident, especially in the ornately crafted bargeboards and the chimneystacks. The oriel feature is repeated in the almshouses, and the textural contrast between the rubble walls, cut and carved sandstone details, and the carved timber work, makes for an especially pleasing composition.