Killua Castle

Detached three-bay two-storey former gate lodge with integral Tudor-arched carriage arch to centre, built c.1830, having crenellated flanking walls to either side with square-headed pedestrian entrances. Miniature towers on square-plan to either end of two-storey section and flanking central carriage arch. Pitched natural slate roof hidden behind raised crenellated parapet. Constructed of dressed squared limestone with extensive ashlar limestone trim, including moulded string courses, chamfered plinth and loop hole, cross and cross botonée devices. Dressed limestone voussoirs to central carriage arch and chamfered ashlar (flush) block-and-start surrounds with hoodmouldings over to pedestrian entrances. Cast-iron double gates to carriage arch and cast-iron gates to pedestrian entrances. Pointed-arched window openings with chamfered ashlar dressings, cut stone sills and with hoodmouldings to ground floor flanking carriage arch. Gate lodge bounded to east and west by sections of coursed limestone screen walling having ashlar limestone plinth and ashlar limestone copping over. Located to the south of Killua Castle (15306023) and to the southwest of Clonmellon.

An attractive, well-detailed and robust Gothic Revival gate lodge which forms a suitably fine entrance to the important Killua Castle (15306023) estate. This picturesque structure retains its early form, character and fabric. It represents a classic exercise in the 'sham gothic' and was probably built to designs by James Sheil (c.1790 - 1845), who carried out extensive Gothic remodelling works on Killua Castle itself at this time. James Shiel was a noted exponent of the Picturesque Gothic castle-style, which was popular in Ireland during the first half of the nineteenth century. Shiel also carried out works in a similar style at Tullynally Castle (Castlepollard), Knockdrin Castle (near Mullingar) and most notably at Kileen Castle (near Dunshaughlin, Co. Meath). This structure can almost be described as a 'toy castle', which were romantic features sometimes built on Irish country estates around the time this building was constructed. This lodge is quite similar in style and appearance to the 'Clonmellon Lodge' (15306019) to the north, which formerly served the main entrance to Killua Castle from the west. This gate lodge remains an attractive feature in the landscape and forms part of an important collection of demesne-related structures within the former Killua Castle demesne.