The Lodge became the residence of T E Ward, the manager of Black Park Colliery (see nprn 33430), 1805-1854, who probably rebuilt or remodelled the earlier house into its present form. From 1862 it was leased to John Scott Milne & Co and then sold to Mr Darlington senior, following whom it was occupied by his son, James, 1877-1933, manager of the colliery and a local benefactor.
The Lodge is of three-storeys, built of red brick and has slated roofs. The front elevation is three bays consisting of two wide outer bays, each with eaves in the form of a pediment, and a narrow central bay. There is a Doric portico of stone with a plain entablature and a mutule cornice to the central bay. The door is six-panelled with a diamond pattern, timber overlight and glazed side screens. The ground floor has twelve paned tripartite sashes with a segmental brick arch, sixteen-paned sashes to the first floor and nine-paned sashes at the second floor level; all upper floor windows have stone wedge lintels and stone sills.
The side bays are identical while the rear wing has a six-panelled door and timber three-light casement windows, and leads to the rear service cross wing which has a hipped roof and bracketed eaves.
Source: Cadw listing 1998.
