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A memorial to Trevor Corry, a member of a notable Newry family, has stood at the junction of the Downshire Road and Sandys Street in Newry for 185 years. Although he was apprenticed as a solicitor, he never practiced. In the early 1800s he was in business with his brother, Smithson, and subsequently a member of the merchant firm Corry, Little and Swanzy. He was Deputy-Lieutenant for County Down and held a number of public appointments in the town. Corry was remembered as “an impartial and upright dispenser of justice” for his work as a magistrate. After his death on 22nd July 1838, the monument was built to commemorate the “private virtues and public character of the much loved and much respected townsman”.
Subscriptions for the monument were gathered by a committee. The foundation stone was laid by the Rev. Dr. Campbell, Vicar of Newry, on 17th June 1839. The stone had a mortice cut to hold a phial containing a scroll of parchment with an address, containing over 500 signatures, (which had been presented to Trevor Corry a month before his death) Corry’s response and a Latin inscription. The address was a reaction to the omission of Trevor Corry’s name from the List of Commissions of the Peace in 1838. After 35 years serving as a magistrate, an unfounded allegation had led to an investigation, during which it was felt he had been treated in a “severe and cruel manner”. He died during the investigation, having waited over six months without any communication.
The granite obelisk, designed by a Mr. Brown, was completed in October and a second subscription opened to enclose the monument with railings. The area around the monument became a venue for military band concerts. However, by 1865 it had become unsightly. Weeds, stones and dirt covered the base and column, and the railings were being used to dry laundry.
In 1876, Joseph Fowler, J.P., raised almost £400 in subscriptions to turn the neglected piece of ground into a garden and pleasure ground, enclosed with an ornamental wall and iron railings. Mrs. Richardson (Moyallon) gifted an ornamental drinking fountain, Henry Barcroft (The Glen) provided garden seats, and Patrick Grant (Elmgrove Nurseries) donated plants. Arrangements were also made to hand the grounds over to the Newry Town Commissioners.
On 9th October 1877, the Pleasure Gardens were formally opened by the Chairman of the Town Commissioners, James Fegan, J.P. The event was attended by members of the public and subscribers. The band of the 77th (DCO) Regiment played a select programme of music throughout the afternoon. Initially the subscribers were given keys to the garden, which was intended for their sole use. Under the care of the Commissioners, it was opened to all.
With the grounds deemed too small to justify paying a caretaker, they were beset with problems, becoming overgrown and dirty. In June 1888, Town Commissioner, James Savage reported that shrubs were being carried away and that the place was not being used by the people for whom it was intended. The following month the grounds opened, with a caretaker, from six to nine in the evenings, and from two to five on Sundays. Despite this, the park was locked in the run up to Christmas to prevent people from taking holly.
Acts of vandalism were still occurring in August 1903, when the Town Inspector, Mr. Ferguson reported that several trees had large letters cut into them, bark peeled off and branches broken. The gate was locked until the following spring. In 1907, Thomas Smith of Daisy Hill Nurseries repaired the grounds, after which the Urban Council installed Samuel Tweedie as caretaker and opened them to the public for a period of six months. Two years later the flowerbeds were removed and replaced with grass and the necessary implements given to Mr. Tweedie to keep the place in order. The grounds were opened from St. Patrick’s Day until the end of October every year, until 1924 when they were kept open all year round.
The Museum is currently offering free tours of the main exhibition galleries on Wednesdays at 2.00 pm. These must be booked in advance by calling our Education Officer at 0330 137 4422.
Newry and Mourne Museum is open Tuesday – Saturday 10.00 am – 4.30 pm. Please call 0330 137 4422 or email museums@nmandd.org for further information.
Visit their website at www.visitmournemountains.co.uk
