Building between nos. 9-10

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

Long two-storey link block, seven openings wide with coach arch forming part of a classical Georgian group.

The roof is pitched and natural slated with a modern extract vent to right of rear pitch. Semicircular metal rain water goods with downpipe to centre of front and rear elevations.

Façade is painted, lined render with raised broad eaves course and stepped, raised render quoins to each side. Main entrance is centrally placed. To its left is a modern six panelled door with semicircular granite step set between three piece granite jambs with a three-piece lintel (with keyblock) over. On wall above is a modern security alarm box.

To right of door is a pair of modern metal gates set within a semicircular headed coach arch with stepped granite quoins to jambs and head. Arch head is partially infilled with vertical t+g sheeting (to accommodate the first floor level), and there is a granite wheel stone to each side of opening. Five windows to facade ground floor, two to right of coach arch and three to left of front door. All are 1/1 sliding sashes with horns and painted granite cill. To first floor are seven 1/1 sliding sashes, all with granite cills. One is directly over coach arch, with four to its left are aligned to right of the ground floor windows and door. There are a further two windows (with lower cills than the others) to right of that over the coach arch, directly over ground floor windows. The area to the left of the front door and that to the right of the coach arch is enclosed by plain spiked railings with urn topped posts, resting on a chamfered granite base wall. Below ground floor right window steps fall to basement passage of no.9.

Coachway is paved with granite setts and paviors. Inside coach arch walls are lined render; to right cheek on entry is a sheeted timber door. Left and right gables form party walls with nos. 9 and 10.

Walls to rear elevation are painted, lined render with broad raised eaves course. Main entrance is to right of centre of elevation, and is housed within a modern t+g sheeted gabled porch (with artificial slate roof) with diamond window in its gable and entrance way on right cheek. To left of porch is the semicircular headed coach arch (head partially infilled) with granite wheel stones to each side. To left of the arch are two 6/6 sliding sash windows with horns and painted granite cills. To right of porch are two metal framed, twelve paned windows, and to the extreme right is a sheet metal escape door situated below the overhanging lean-to of the boiler house abutting the right gable of no.10.

There are nine windows to first floor. From left are a 1/1 sliding sash a 2/2 sash window, and a 1/1 sliding sash, then a 1/1 sliding sash over the coach arch. Over the wall between the coach and porch is a tripartite window consisting of a 2/2 (vertically divided) flanked by two 2/2 (horizontally divided) sliding sashes. The remainder of the wall to right has one 2/2 sliding sash (horizontally divided) followed by three equally spaced 6/6 sliding sashes. All have painted cills. Coach arch provides access to the rears of all the buildings in the complex. Rear area is given over to car parking for nos. 7-10.

Historical information

This area of ground was first developed by Isaac Corry (grandfather of Isaac, Chancellor of the Irish Exchequer) in the mid 1700s. A house, possibly this one, is shown here on John Rocque’s 1760 map. It continued to be occupied by the Corry family until well into the 19th century. 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. Valuation revision books, 1866-1930, PRONI -VAL 1B/389, p.97.
3. Valuation revision books, 1866-1930, PRONI -VAL 2B/3/69H, p.144.

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
H-. Alterations detracting from building
J. Setting
K. Group value

Criteria for listing: historic interest

V. Authorship
X. Local Interest

Evaluation

Long two-storey link block joining the two principal elements 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.