Gorey,
An online Historical Guide.
The historic Market House which is on Main Street Gorey, is
a Victorian style building which is now the local government
administrative centre and houses the unique chiming clock.
|
 |
This
old 18th century building was rebuilt in 1709 and is currently
used as the meeting place for the Gorey Town Commissioners. It
is also the location of the North Wexford Tourist Office. During
the 1798 insurrection prisoners were held here. The building is
listed as a place of regional historic interest.
The
historic Market House which is on Main Street Gorey, is a Victorian
style building which is now the local government administrative
centre and houses the unique chiming clock. This old 18th century
building was rebuilt in 1709 and is currently used as the meeting
place for the Gorey Town Commissioners. It is also the location
of the North Wexford Tourist Office. During the 1798 insurrection
prisoners were held here. The building is listed as a place of
regional historic interest.
The
street has many old fashioned shop-fronts - Browne's Pub, Myles
Doyle, Hughie Doyle's, the 63 Restaurant and Quinn's Lounge are
among the shop-fronts listed for protection. Take note of the
Golden Dragon Restaurant whose fine premises are protected for
regional interest.
At
the top of the Main Street is the Court House, which also houses
the town's library. Built in 1819, it was burned down in 1922
but was rebuilt shortly afterwards. Beside the Court House is
the Church of Ireland. Christ Church was erected in 1861, and
boasts some magnificent stained glass windows. The structure of
the Church with its tower is beautiful and this is highlighted
when it is illuminated at night. The Church is listed for preservation
for the national interest. Beside Christ Church is the old Erasmus
Smith School House. Built in 1834, the architecture is worth noting,
it is now the Social Services Centre.
If
you travel on up the street, you will see The Monument of the
1798 insurrection, with its cannons facing down the Main Street.
These guns are an added feature of recent years.
In
the Market Square, Gorey's designated casual trading area, you
will find the Methodist Church. Built in 1834, it's the towns
oldest church. Also in the Market Square is the Old Cemetery where
the remains of Bishop Thomas Ram are buried, who's family were
responsible for Gorey's fine layout.
The location of the Irish Permanent offices on the Main street
was the site of Bishop Ram's Palace, which was built about 1620,
but has long since gone. It was Bishop Thomas Ram who constituted
a corporate town under a charter dated 19th October 1619 called
The Town of Newborough. This was the foundation of Gorey, although
there was a nucleus of a town here since 1296. The Ram family
determined the Administration of Gorey affairs for three centuries.
Looking
down Rafter Street, you can see Rynvanney House, built in 1814
which was a former R.I.C. Barrack and a nursing home.
The
third church in Gorey is located on Saint Michael's Road at the
bottom of the Main Street. Saint Michael's Church is a beautiful
and spacious structure, distinguished by its massive square tower.
The Church was designed by the famous Pugin.
About
half a mile from the town, Clonattin has a burial ground dating
back to the fifth century and the remains of a small monastic
church are still evident. Due to the cholera outbreaks during
and after the famine it is recorded that many of the paupers who
died were brought from the old Gorey union workhouse and buried
in communal graves at Clonattin.
Some
old workhouse buildings still stand in Ramstown, also the site
of Gorey Leather Factory (1936 - 1979). The beautiful entrance
hall of the old work-house has recently been restored as a dwelling
house and Gorey business park is now located on the remaining
site.
