Ross Monument, Warrenpoint Road, Rostrevor, Co.Down

The Ross Monument, located on the Warrenpoint Road in Rostrevor, County Down, was erected in 1826 as a memorial to Major General Robert Ross (1766-1814), a member of the prominent Rostrevor gentry family who served with distinction during the Napoleonic Wars. Ross rose to the rank of Major General and, in 1814, was sent to the United States, then at war with Britain. He led forces that routed an American force at Bladensburg, Maryland, and subsequently burned several key buildings in Washington, D.C., including the Capitol Building, the Library of Congress, and the Executive mansion. Ross was mortally wounded during a raid on Baltimore shortly after. A London memorial had been erected earlier, but plans for a local monument were initiated in 1815, with architect Richard Morrison initially involved. The final design is attributed to Richard's son and collaborator, William Vitruvius Morrison, with construction overseen by Thomas Duff of Newry, although Henry Hamilton of Carpenham is also referenced as the designer in historical records. The project cost £2,000, funded by public subscription. A small picturesque caretaker’s lodge, situated at the south-western corner of the site, was removed in the 1970s during road widening. A major restoration scheme was completed in 2008. The monument is included in the listing along with the gates, railings, and steps. It is owned by the local government.