1879 – Gate Lodge, Botanic Gardens, Belfast, Co. Antrim

Architect: William Batt

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Former gatelodge constructed in Venetian Gothic, a single-storey building in red brick with Staffordshire blue bands and pointed stone arches at the openings. Carving by Alexander Steven.

“The building is entered through two arched openings into an outer vestibule 12 ft. by 7 ft., and two doors lead from this to an inner vestibule, 15 ft. by 12 ft. Off this there is a public room, and also a ladies’ cloakroom and lavatory. Commodious apartments are provided for the caretaker; and approached from the garden are suitable offices, having proper sanitary arrangements.”

“Besides this entrance lodge there are massive and ornamental wrought-iron gates of very superior design hung to heavy cut-stone piers, and on the top of the centre piers are fixed iron gas standards and glass globes, the former neatly gilt. The gates and also the rest of the wrought-iron work have been supplied by Messrs. Riddel and Co. The style adopted for the building is Venetian Gothic.”

The original design was exhibited at the Belfast Industrial Exhibition 1876, but was redesigned prior to construction. Demolished in 1965. Only the stone gates, with lamps and poppy finials, survive today.