Old Gatehouse, Nottingham

The Old Gatehouse, also known as Lenton Lodge, is a striking architectural gem marking what was once a grand entrance to Wollaton Park in Nottingham. Designed in the early 1820s by the celebrated architect Sir Jeffry Wyatville, this Grade II* listed structure blends Elizabethan Revival elegance with Romanesque grandeur. Commissioned by Henry Willoughby, 6th Baron Middleton, the gatehouse was part of a broader vision to extend the park's eastern boundary toward the Nottingham Canal, with an eye-catching entrance that echoed the style of the stately Wollaton Hall.

Constructed from Mansfield sandstone, the building features a central archway for vehicles, four distinctive turrets, and an original mechanism for opening the gates-still a point of fascination today. The gatehouse was once integrated into a newly built park wall, its castle-like form serving both as a symbol of status and a literal threshold to the estate.

Though originally part of the parkland, Lenton Lodge now stands somewhat isolated on Derby Road due to the later development of the surrounding area. Sold by Nottingham City Council in the 1980s, the building underwent a major transformation in the late 1990s when it was converted into a private residence by Moiz Saigara. This conversion included discreetly filling in the central arch to unify the structure without compromising its historic appearance.

Later acquired and restored by Chek Whyte Industries, the lodge was repurposed into office space and eventually purchased by the University of Nottingham in 2016. Despite its varied modern uses, Lenton Lodge remains one of the most architecturally ambitious Romanesque-style gatehouses in England-an enduring landmark that continues to impress with both its form and historical depth.