Marquis of Downshire Monument

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

Free-standing sandstone Greek Doric column on podium supporting stone statue of the Third Marquess of Downshire, erected 1848. Standing on a hill on the south side of Hillsborough, known as Monument Field.

Carved stone statue (possibly Portland limestone), depicting the third Marquess of Downshire, mounted on domed sandstone ashlar circular plinth on square platform. Platform supported on fluted Greek Doric sandstone column, approximately 40 metres tall. Column stands on square-plan sandstone ashlar panelled podium with drip-stone cornice, resting on three stepped sandstone stylobate. Portland limestone carved panel to the north panel showing the Downshire arms and motto: 'per deum et ferrum obtinui'. Other panels to east, south and west are blank.

Setting:
Set on the summit of a small hill to the south of Hillsborough on Monument Road overlooking the surrounding countryside.

Historical information

The memorial pillar to the third Marquis of Downshire first appears on the second edition of the Ordnance Survey maps for the Hillsborough area as a small structure simply labelled ‘monument’ just south of the village. The monument is not recorded in any valuation records, however, it was erected on a plot of land owned by the Downshire family which was let for crops and grazing. This plot of land has come to be known locally as ‘Monument Field’ in respect to this memorial pillar which resembles Nelson’s column at Trafalgar Square in London.

The pillar commemorates the Hon. Arthur Wills Blundell Sandys Trumbull Hill, the Third Marquis of Downshire (1788-1845), who Hobart tells us died in 1845 at his estate in Co. Wicklow after he fell from his horse while having an apoplectic fit. Local rumours at the time suggested he was in fact shot from his horse by a disgruntled tenant. Regardless, his funeral procession from Wicklow to Hillsborough was one of the largest to have ever taken place in Ireland. The column was erected in 1848 by the Marquis’ friends and tenants, originally designed to incorporate four lions at its base much like Nelson’s Column (Hobart, no page number). Barry states that the monument was situated on the hill south of Hillsborough because everything the Marquis could see from there he owned (Brett, p. 25). At the base of the column was written an inscription:

‘To commemorate the public and private virtues of the most Honourable Arthur Wills Blundell Sandys Trumbull Hill, Third Marquis of Downshire, Lieutenant of the County Down Militia, and Knight of the most illustrious Order of St. Patrick. Alike distinguished for patriotism, rectitude of principle of honesty, of purpose; upholding his station with becoming dignity he was also mindful of the wants of others and practised its duties with benevolence and humility which won the regard of every virtuous mind adding lustre to his exalted rank. Those who knew his work and admired the uprightness of his character and conduct in the several relations of life have erected this Monumental Column as a token of their friendship and esteem, 1848.’

Brett describes suggests that the memorial was designed or constructed by Thomas Duff, who was known for building Roman Catholic Churches in Co. Down, however, the name of the sculptor is unknown (Brett, Ulster Architectural Heritage Society, p. 16). In a later work Brett states that the monument had fallen into disrepair, but that neither the government nor the Hill family have agreed to bear the recommended £13,934 restoration cost. In 2002 Brett stated that the inscription recorded above was indecipherable and had been taken away to have the lettering recut, however after eight years the inscription has not been returned (Brett, Buildings of North Down, p. 273).

The column was listed in 1976, the listers noting that the column reached a height of 130 ft (NIEA File).

References

Primary Sources

1. PRONI VAL/1/B/344 A-B – Townland Valuations 1834
2. PRONI VAL/1/D/3/5 – Town Plan 1834
3. PRONI D671/M/8/25 – Hillsborough Map c.1800
4. PRONI D671/M/8/57/1 – Hillsborough Illustrated Map 1803
5. PRONI OS/6/3/14/1 – First Edition OS Map 1834
6. PRONI OS/6/3/14/2 – Second Edition OS Map 1858
7. PRONI OS/6/3/14/3 – Third Edition OS Map 1902-1903
8. PRONI OS/6/3/14/4 – Fourth Edition OS Map 1919-1920
9. PRONI VAL/2/B/3/45A-C – Griffith’s Valuation 1856-64
10. PRONI VAL/12/B/20/14A – Annual Revisions 1864-1879
11. PRONI VAL/12/B/20/14B – Annual Revisions 1880-1889
12. PRONI VAL/12/B/20/14C – Annual Revisions 1890-1908
13. PRONI VAL/12/B/20/14D – Annual Revisions 1909-1928
14. PRONI VAL/12/B/20/14E – Annual Revisions 1928-1930

Secondary Sources

1. Barry, J., ‘Hillsborough: A parish in the Ulster plantation’ (3rd ed.), Belfast, Universities Press., 1982.
2. Brett, C. E. B., ‘Historic buildings, groups of buildings, areas of architectural importance in the towns and villages of Mid Down: Hillsborough, Dromore, Dromara, Ballynahinch, the Spa, Drumaness and Saintfield’ Ulster Architectural Heritage Society, 1974.
3. Brett, C. E. B., ‘Buildings of North County Down’ Ulster Architectural Heritage Society, 2002.
4. Hobart, B. R., ‘The village of Hillsborough Co. Down: A short architectural and historical description’ (Unpublished illustrated book c. 1950s).

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
Z. Rarity
W. Northern Ireland/International Interest

Evaluation

Free-standing sandstone Greek Doric column on podium supporting stone statue of the Third Marquess of Downshire, erected 1848. This formidable monument can be seen from a great distance and constitutes a local landmark. Executed in finely carved sandstone the scale and ambition of this work is generally of a quality seen in a large city rather than the outskirts of a small town. An important memorial structure, reputed to be designed by the architect Thomas Duff, it commemorates a significant historical figure and patron of Hillsborough and is of national interest.

General comments

Criteria R, S, T & U also apply.