Crozier Monument, Church Square, Banbridge, Co Down, BT32 4AP

A monument dedicated to Francis Crozier, erected 1862 to the design of W.J.Barre and carvings by Joseph Robinson Kirk. Located in the centre of Church Square, north east of the town centre. Ashlar limestone chamfered square plan plinth with buttresses supporting limestone bear sculptures to central pier surmounted by an octagonal open cusped gothic arcade of granite columns with limestone moulded foliate capital and base; further surmounted by moulded limestone octagonal tapered cap embellished with foliated carving, supporting limestone statue. Depressed gothic arched niches to each face of the central pier; moulded archivolt of pilasters with hood moulding and moulded stops. North east and south west niches embrace engraved slate “TO PERPETUATE THE REMEMBERANCE OF TALENT ENTERPRISE AND WORTH, ALL COMBINED IN THE CHARACTER AND EVIDENCED IN THE LIFE OF CAPTAIN FRANCIS RAWDON MOIRA CROZIER R.N.F.R.S. THIS MONUMENT HAS BEEN ERECTED BY FRIENDS WHO AS THEY VALUED HIM IN LIFE REGRET HIM IN DEATH. HE WAS SECOND IN COMMAND WITH CAPTAIN SIR JOHN FRANKLIN R.N.F.R.S. AND CAPTAIN OF H.M. SHIP TERROR IN THE POLAR EXPEDITION WHICH LEFT ENGLAND ON 22ND MAY 1845.” “ ALTHOUGH THERE REMAINED NO SURVIVORS OF THE EXPEDITION, ENOUGH HAS BEEN ASCERTAINED TO SHOW THAT, TO IT, IS JUSTLY DUE THE HONOUR OF THE DISCOVERY OF THE LONG SOUGHT FOR NORTH WEST PASSAGE, AND THAT CAPTAIN CROZIER, HAVING SURVIVED HIS CHIEF, PERISHED WITH THE REMAINDER OF THE PARTY AFTER HE HAD BRAVELY LED THEM TO THE COAST OF AMERICA. HE WAS BORN AT BANBRIDGE, THE - SEPTEMBER 1796, BUT OF THE PLACE OR TIME OF HIS DEATH NO MAN KNOWETH UNTO THIS DAY.” South east and north west niches embrace a sandstone carving of a ships “Terror” and “Erebus” embedded in ice. Below the niches are embossed “CROZIER”. Setting Located north east of the town centre on a modern granite traffic island at the junction of Bridge Street, Castlewellan Street and Church Square. Adjacent to his birth place, Crozier House (HB17/07/009).