7 Abbey Yard, Newry, Co Down, BT34 2EG

7 Abbey Yard, Newry

This is the right-hand property of a terrace of three houses, each three storeys high with basement and attic, situated on the north side of Abbey Yard. An elegant early nineteenth-century house of considerable architectural importance as part of a prominent group within the town, it was substantially restored between 1986 and 1991, though few original interior features remain.

The building probably dates from the late eighteenth or early nineteenth century and was likely erected by Isaac Corry (Member of Parliament and Chancellor of the Exchequer in the Irish Parliament) sometime after 1760, when the Corry family acquired ownership of this area of ground. The site is shown on John Rocque's 1760 map of Newry as empty, and the house is recorded on the 1834 Ordnance Survey map. From the early twentieth century until 1972, it formed part of the Christian Brothers School. Following the school's relocation, the premises deteriorated until restoration by Clanrye Community Workshop between 1986 and 1991.

The exterior remains largely intact. The roof is mansard, hipped to the south, finished in natural slate with lead trimmings. A cement render chimney sits on the party wall with number 8. Metal and modern skylights are positioned on the east and west pitches respectively. The walls to the south and east elevations are painted, lined cement render with granite coping to the parapet wall head. An unpainted, chamfered granite stringcourse runs between basement and ground floor.

The south elevation features stepped, vee-jointed granite quoins to either side. The main entrance at ground floor centre is accessed by five granite steps leading to a granite paved bridge over the basement passage. The door is a reproduction six-panel raised and fielded timber design with beaded muntin and modern furniture, set within two granite demi-columns supporting a moulded granite entablature. Above this is a segmental reproduction peacock tail fanlight, all contained within a pole-mould chamfered segmental headed opening with a modern coach lamp to its right. Records indicate this façade was previously slate hung before restoration. To either side of the door at ground floor is a single 6/6 sliding sash window with horns and granite cill. The basement level has a segmental-headed modern door (twelve glazed panes with fixed glazed side lights) situated beneath the front steps, and a 6/6 sliding sash window to its right set within a three-piece granite lintel and jamb opening with keyblock, granite cills, and security bars. Three equally spaced windows occupy each upper floor, diminished in height at second floor and aligned with ground floor openings. First floor windows have decorative cast iron balconettes. The basement passage is accessed by steps from the ground floor right and is enclosed by plain spiked railings with urn-topped posts on a chamfered granite base wall. A modern polished granite commemorative plaque is set within the basement retaining wall below the front door steps.

The west elevation contains a single window to each floor of the same type as those on the south elevation. The north gable forms the party wall with number 8.

The east elevation has painted lined cement render. A single storey outbuilding abuts this elevation at ground floor left. To the right of the abutment at ground floor is a 6/6 sliding sash window with granite cill. The basement level has two 4/4 sliding sash windows with security bars. Single 6/6 sliding sash windows occupy the first and second floors, the upper floor window diminished in height. The rear basement passage is enclosed by modern railings and planters with modern concrete steps from the courtyard.