Gates and Gate Lodges

Oak Park Arch, Oak Park (Painestown), Carlow

The Arch, Oak Park, Carlow William Vitruvius Morrison (1794-1838) William Vitruvius Morrison also designed the entrance gate to Oak Park House and demesne. It remains to this day a magnificent example of a Triumphal Arch. The arch is flanked by paired Ionic columns on the front elevation with Doric columns on the back flank of the Arch. The columns are raised on pedestals. Both sides of the Arch carry a full entablature. On the approach from the Carlow side, is a carriage turn surrounded by a high granite wall.

Carlow County Library

Oak Park Arch, Oak Park (Painestown), Carlow
Carlow County Library

Oak Park Arch, Oak Park (Painestown), Carlow

The Arch, Oak Park, Carlow William Vitruvius Morrison (1794-1838) William Vitruvius Morrison also designed the entrance gate to Oak Park House and demesne. It remains to this day a magnificent example of a Triumphal Arch. The arch is flanked by paired Ionic columns on the front elevation with Doric columns on the back flank of the Arch. The columns are raised on pedestals. Both sides of the Arch carry a full entablature. On the approach from the Carlow side, is a carriage turn surrounded by a high granite wall.

Carlow County Library

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Ducketts Grove - armorial bearings

Shown here is the Coat of Arms of the Duckett family which is placed over the entrance gate to Ducketts’ Grove. The arms display the motto “spectemor agendo” which means, “let us be judged by our actions”. The shield is topped by a helmet with plumes, with a lamb to the left and a gargoyle to the right. Two eagles are placed one on either side of the shield of sixteen divisions. One of the eagles is without its head. The arms are surrounded by decorative columns and arches with drip moulds ending in human head figures.

Carlow County Library

Ducketts Grove - armorial bearings
Carlow County Library

Ducketts Grove - armorial bearings

Shown here is the Coat of Arms of the Duckett family which is placed over the entrance gate to Ducketts’ Grove. The arms display the motto “spectemor agendo” which means, “let us be judged by our actions”. The shield is topped by a helmet with plumes, with a lamb to the left and a gargoyle to the right. Two eagles are placed one on either side of the shield of sixteen divisions. One of the eagles is without its head. The arms are surrounded by decorative columns and arches with drip moulds ending in human head figures.

Carlow County Library

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The entrance gate forms the boundary between the public and the private space or property. Landlords used the language of architecture to convey their notion of power and prestige. There are some elaborate examples of this practice to be found in Carlow.

The Triumphal Arch was a monumental structure with one or more arched passageways. It was frequently built to honour a king or general or to commemorate a military triumph. The Romans constructed many of them.

The Oak Park Arch is a fine example of this type of structure. It is flanked by paired Ionic columns on the front elevation with Doric columns on back flank of the arch. The columns are raised on pedestals. Both sides of the Arch carry a full entablature. On the approach from the Carlow side is a carriage turn, surrounded by a high granite wall.

The lodge and gate at Duckett's Grove were built in a contrasting style to Oak Park. It comprises many battlemented towers and has two great archways leading to two different drives. It was designed by John MacDuff Derick (1810-1859). Built between 1853 and 1855 it is one of the most elaborate castellated gateways in Ireland. The more elaborate one, with portcullis and large armorial bearing, was used on formal occasions.

The coat of arms of the Duckett family which is placed over the entrance displays the motto "spectamor agendo" which means, "let us be judged by our actions". The shield is topped by a helmet with plumes, a lamb to the left and a gargoyle to the right. There are two eagles, one on either side of the shield of sixteen divisions. One of the eagles is without its head. The arms are surrounded by decorative columns and arches with drip moulds ending in human head figures.

Dunleckney gate post

The gatepost at Dunleckney near Bagenalstown is an example of a granite pillar of relatively simple design. Granite is a building material typically found in County Carlow. The ornament has been executed in a modest style. On the pillar is found a carved diamond pattern surrounding a blank shield. The capstone shows some cruciform ornamentation and is surrounded by a decorative battlement type motif with merlons and crenellations.

Carlow County Library

Dunleckney gate post
Carlow County Library

Dunleckney gate post

The gatepost at Dunleckney near Bagenalstown is an example of a granite pillar of relatively simple design. Granite is a building material typically found in County Carlow. The ornament has been executed in a modest style. On the pillar is found a carved diamond pattern surrounding a blank shield. The capstone shows some cruciform ornamentation and is surrounded by a decorative battlement type motif with merlons and crenellations.

Carlow County Library

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At Dunleckney, near Bagenalstown a much simpler stone carved example of a gate entrance pillar is to be found. It is executed in granite typical of the widespread use in Carlow of that stone.

A plainer example of a granite gate post can be seen at the estate village cottage in Fenagh near Bagenalstown. A row of terraced cottages, built of granite, was erected by the Pack-Berrisford family in the village of Fenagh in the mid-nineteenth century.