Killua Castle

Detached three-bay single-storey Greek Revival style gate lodge with a prostyle Ionic portico to front (north) screening single-storey lodge to rear, built c.1800, now in use as a private dwelling. Constructed of ashlar limestone with ashlar detailing. Pitched natural slate roof behind portico with a raised verge with cut stone coping. Central square-headed doorcase with cut-stone surround and modern glazed panelled door flanked by pair of round-headed niches. Plain steeply pitched portico to front is supported on four (tetrastyle) Ionic columns and has urn finals on blocks to either end. Set slightly back from road with rubble limestone walls to east and west and low ashlar plinth wall to road frontage with iron spikes. Located on slight hillock across the road from the (south) entrance to the Killua Castle Demesne.

An interesting and sophisticated structure. The Ionic portico creates an imposing entrance and adds artistic detailing to the building. This lodge is unusual in that it is across the road to the entrance gates from the main house. In this it has a close parallel with the main lodge to Loughcrew House (Co. Meath), which it closely resembles. The Templar gate lodge creates a pleasant vista from the rear elevation of Killua Castle and this might explain its siting and aspect. According to local tradition, the entrance gates to the market square in Clonmellon (15306007) were originally sited to the north of this lodge. This lodge forms part of an interesting group of structures associated with the former Killua Castle demesne and is an important component of the architectural heritage of Westmeath.