9 Abbey Yard

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

Left of a terrace of three three-storey (+basement and attic) classical Georgian townhouses situated on the east side of Abbey Yard.

Mansard (hipped to left) natural slated roof with lead trimmings. Cement render chimney to left and to right (shared with no.8). There are three metal skylights to front pitch of mansard and three modern skylights to rear pitch. Parapet gutter with metal down pipe to facade (shared with no.8).

Walls are painted, lined cement render with granite parapet course to wall head and stepped V-channelled quoins to left corner. At ground floor quoins are unpainted render and from first floor they are granite. There is an unpainted, chamfered granite string course between basement and ground floor. Main entrance is situated at ground floor centre, and is accessed by two granite steps and a granite paved bridge over the basement passage. Door is reproduction six panel (raised and fielded) painted timber with beaded muntin and modern furniture. It is set within two granite Tuscan demi-columns which support and moulded granite entablature. Over the entablature is a segmental reproduction peacock-tail fanlight. All are set within a granite pole-mould chamfered segmental headed opening. Door is fixed and not used with access from no.8. On wall to right of door is a modern coach lamp.

On either side of door at ground floor is a single 6/6 sliding sash window (no horns) with granite cill. Below at basement level is a door and two windows (in line with openings below). Central door is modern six panel and situated under the steps to front door. Each window is 6/3 sliding sash set within a three-piece (with keyblock) granite lintel and jamb opening. Both have granite cills and security bars over. There are three equally spaced 6/6 sliding sash windows at first floor, and three similar but diminished in height windows to second floor. Those to centre and right are offset to right of ground floor openings. Each first floor window has a plain wrought iron balconette with small decorative rosettes. To left of central first floor window is a modern security alarm box.

Basement passage is shared with no.8. Passage and steps are enclosed by plain spiked railings with urn topped posts on a chamfered granite base wall.

Left gable is abutted by the lower link block. The remainder is painted, lined cement render. Parapet from facade continues to half way across the elevation, then wall steps down to rear eaves level with semicircular gutter and downpipe to left. To left of centre at second floor level is a small fixed timber window. The extreme left portion of the elevation has been cut back (including the roof) and the recess contains a timber clad stairwell projection (see rear elevation).

Wall to rear elevation is painted lined cement render. The wall to right is cut back and formerly contained a timber stairwell return (now under reconstruction to accommodate a new stairwell with lift). There are two openings to each floor on the remaining wall. To right at basement level is a modern six panelled reproduction door. To left is a 6/3 sliding sash (as those in facade) with security grill over. At ground floor right is a 6/6 sliding sash window (with horns), to left is a tripartite window consisting of a 6/6 sliding sashes flanked by a 2/2 sliding sashes. Both have granite cills. Windows to upper floors are as ground floor, those to second floor are diminished in height.

Rear basement passage is enclosed by modern railings and planters, with modern steps from rear courtyard.

Historical information

This area of ground was owned by the Corry family since the mid 18th century. This particular house was probably erected by Isaac Corry (MP and Chancellor of the Exchequer in the Irish parliament) sometime after 1760; no buildings are shown on this site (then at the bottom end of Boat St) on John Rocque’s map of this date. It is probably of late 18th or early 19th century date and is shown on the 1834 O.S. map. From the early 1900s until 1972, it formed part of the Christian Brothers School. When the school relocated, the premises fell into dereliction until restoration by Clanrye Community Workshop 1986-91.

Primary Sources:
1. J. Rocque (1760), ‘Plan of the town of Newry’.
2. 1. OS 6" map, 1st edition (1834) Co Down sheet 46 (PRONI OS 6/3/46/1)

Secondary Sources:
1.T. Canavan (1989), ‘Frontier town: an illustrated history of Newry’, p.90 (Belfast: Blackstaff Press).

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

A. Style
B. Proportion
C. Ornamentation
J. Setting
K. Group value

Criteria for listing: historic interest

X. Local Interest
V. Authorship

Evaluation

Left one of a terrace of three, three storey (+basement and attic) houses. This is an elegant early nineteenth century house and part of an important group in a prominent position in the town. The building underwent a substantial restoration and, although the exterior is largely intact, few original internal features remain.