Corry Memorial

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

Ashlar granite monument situated in a small park on junction of Sandys Street and Downshire oad. Obelisk is tapered and strap pointed. It rises from square base which has raised corner piers supporting a projecting roll-moulded chamfered coping surmounted by a pediment to each face. The latter has antefixae to corners and bears the inscription "Corry" in raised capitals on each face. The north and south panels of the base are coffered. Each is inset with a weathered carved sandstone panel bearing coat of arms surrounded by a laurel wreath. The west and east are similarly coffered and inset with slate slabs inscribed as follows:

West face: "Erected/ in honour of/ Trevor Corry Esq/ who performed the duties of magistrate/ for the/ town of Newry/ and the counties of Down and Armagh/ during a period of 35 years/ with integrity ability and zeal/ to perpetuate respect for his virtues/ and as/ a testimonial/ of veneration and gratitude/ this monument was erected/ by voluntary subscription of the inhabitants of Newry/ and the nobility and gentry/ of its neighbourhood/ who appreciated/ and beheld with admiration/ his long and arduous services.”

East face: "Endowed by nature/ with grace and elegance of person/ and with a generous but courageous spirit/ cultivated and refined by the study/ of polite literature/ he combined the firmness and decision/ of the magistrate/ with the amiable qualities / of the good subject the faithful adviser/ philanthropist and friend/ tolerant in religion calm in politics/charitable sensitive humane/ he was removed from scenes wherein/ he shamed oppression /and sympathised with the distressed/ confiding in the blissful promise of a glorious resurrection on the 22d July 1838/ in the 58th year of his age he entered IHS rest/1839"

Base rests on a square plinth formed by six plain granite steps to each side. Park is enclosed to north by gable and rear garden wall of adjacent house, and to street by modern plain steel railings on low chamfered granite plinth; the latter retains markings of original wrought-iron railings. Matching double gates to Sandys St near corner with main road. Affixed to top of railings to left of gates is a plain flat metal semicircular arch reading ‘Corry Park’. Smaller single gate at rear right.

Historical information

Erected 1839. Besides being a magistrate, Trevor Corry (the second son of Isaac Corry of Abbey Yard, Newry) held a number of public appointments in the town: Trustee of St. Mary’s Church, Newry turnpike, and Newry Bank, Agent for Ross Estate (Rostrevor), and Deputy Lieutenant of Co Down. The small park which surrounds the monument was purchased by public subscription and opened to the public in 1877.

Secondary Sources:

1. F. Crossle, Members of [Masonic] Lodge XVIII, p.64 (Newry).
2. F.H. Bell, 1989, Newry, ‘Warrenpoint and Rostrevor’, p.12 (Belfast; Friar’s Bush).

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

A. Style
B. Proportion
C. Ornamentation
J. Setting

Criteria for listing: historic interest

V. Authorship
X. Local Interest

Evaluation

Ashlar granite monument. An elegant memorial to an important local figure and situated in a prominent location at the northern entry to the town.