Grey Point Fort

Lord Dufferin had a fascination with all things Scottish and was determined to build a baronial style fortress on his estate, overlooking Belfast Lough. A suitable location, further along the coast to the west, was proposed by landscape designer James Frazer in 1852 but was foiled by the admiralty when they earmarked the site to build the Coastguard Station. Dufferin then turned to this location, which was less sheltered than the original site, but perhaps more prominent for a grand house, so it looked promising. But when in 1857 the admiralty finally produced a map showing the site for the proposed coastguard station, they also included a site ‘probably required for a battery’.[1] That site was just here, where the battery now stands. But do not jump to conclusions, because the structure beside us was not completed until 50 years later, in1907. In fact, Lord Dufferin noted in his diary in 1901 that “After lunch went to Grey Point to meet the Duke of Connaught who had come to inspect the proposed new fort”.[2]

Bearing in mind that he had already lost his ideal site to the coastguards, Lord Dufferin must have decided to steal a march on them here, and as, by 1865, there had still been no further movement from the admiralty, he commissioned his architect, William Lynn, to produce plans for a grand baronial mansion in the style of a Scottish fortress – right on top of the proposed battery site[3] . This was not to be a retreat by the sea, but a total replacement for Clandeboye House itself. He had never really liked Clandeboye house and had had plans drawn to restyle it as a Jacobean mansion[4] , as well as contemplating its demolition it and replacement on the hill overlooking the present-day courtyard. It would certainly have suited his character to relocate to the coast, where he could easily sail across to Inverary to visit his dear friends, the Argylls.

However, none of these projects ever came to fruition. Lord Dufferin borrowed huge sums of money to improve his estate and gradually came to realise that he would have to stay put in Clandeboye House, so he undertook minor improvements there and abandoned his grand plans.

In 1872 Dufferin was appointed Governor General of Canada, a role that finally enabled him to build on a grand scale and lead the lifestyle that he had yearned for, enlarging his two official residences, at Ottawa and Quebec to include ballrooms and even an indoor tennis court in Ottawa, which doubled up as a huge dining room. He was also able to commission William Lynn to join him in Quebec to rebuild the old battlements overlooking the St Lawrence River and design two new gates in the city walls, both very much in the style of Benjamin Ferrey’s railway arch at Helen’s Bay station, and all paid for by the Government.

So, in the end, Lord Dufferin got his mansions, albeit in Canada, Grey Point got its fort, Belfast Lough was defended, and everyone was (hopefully) happy.

[1] PRONI D1071/A/K/1/B1 (11 February 1857)

[2] PRONI D1071/H/V/32 (18 August 1901)

[3] PRONI T3020/39/1

[4] PRONI T3020/40