GATE LODGE

ONLY ONE OF TWO GATE LODGES REAMAIS

There were actually two gate lodges associated with Belfast Botanic Gardens, both with interesting histories:

Stranmillis Road Entrance (demolished):

Original Gate Lodge: Built in 1879 in a Venetian Gothic style, it was a beautiful red brick building with intricate details. Sadly, it was demolished in 1965.

Remaining Features: The ornate stone gates, lamps, and poppy finials from this lodge still stand at the entrance.

College Park Entrance:

Current Gate Lodge: This is the one featured in my photographs. It dates back to around 1880 and is a smaller, simpler structure compared to the original Stranmillis Road lodge.

Current Use: This gate lodge is not currently used for its original purpose. It has been overshadowed by the expansion of Queen's University and is mainly used for storage.

Neither gate lodge is currently used for its original purpose of housing gatekeepers or providing visitor information. However, they remain interesting historical features of the Botanic Gardens. The remaining stone gates and poppy finials at the Stranmillis Road entrance are a reminder of the original lodge's grandeur, while the College Park lodge stands as a testament to the garden's long history.

There is no official record stating the exact reason for the demolition of the Stranmillis Road gate lodge in 1965.