Dundarave: Lodges

Dundarave Main Entrance in 2014

During a visit to Portballintrae and Bushmills, County Antrim, my curiosity was aroused by the boundary walls and gate lodges of Dundarave estate, erstwhile seat of the Macnaghten Baronets.

The main gate lodge, and the closest to Bushmills, is almost opposite the Clay Field.

Main Entrance Lodge in 2014

This is easily the grandest of the lodges, of which there used to be four in total.

J A K Dean, in his Gate Lodges of Ulster, describes it thus:-

"A mini-palazzo ... and its grand porte-cochère ... the extensive gate-screen of tall, square, sandstone piers with restrained friezes below moulded cappings ... Wide, double, cast-iron carriage gates flanked by wicket gates and concave sweeps beyond."

There is a modest, plain lodge - almost like a cottage -  at a side entrance which leads to a courtyard.

At the rear entrance to the estate there is another charming little lodge.

Dundarave estate now comprises 1,300 acres of land; though during the Victorian era its extent was 7,134 acres.

First published in 2014.