In 1861 Curry was one of a number of pupils living in the household of schoolmaster Charles Cooke and his wife Mary Ann, in Market Drayton. Ten years later he was a student of architecture in Wellingborough, Northants, having already studied in Manchester. He then moved to work in Cardiff, on the docks development before returning to Jersey in 1881, upon the death of his father Thomas Philip Curry of "The Retreat" (La Retraite), on La Pouquelaye and once with a long driveway down to Queen's Road. Adolphus lived at "The Retreat" with his wife Beatrice Curry, nee Cookson, until his early death in 1910.
His father, Thomas Philipe Curry, was a master tailor in Library Place, and Adolphus was one of nine children.
Family tree
Jersey buildings
After his return to Jersey Curry soon became involved with some very high profile developments and was responsible for designing a new Opera House in Gloucester Street to replace the building destroyed by fire in 1899. The new building opened in 1900.
Ten years earlier Curry had designed the plinth on which the statue of Queen Victoria would stand at the Weighbridge for nearly a century, before moving to West Park, and he also designed the pedestal for the memorial to St Helier Constable Philippe Baudains in Parade Gardens.
He went on to design such major buildings as Highlands College, the Victoria Club in Beresford Street, which is now being turned into a restaurant, the Jersey Ladies College in Rouge Bouillon, Midland Bank in Library Place, the Jersey Railway terminus building at the Weighbridge, St Paul's Church, the Sacre Coeur orphanage, and also Peel Terrace, the Halkett Hotel, and the Mount in Old St John's Road.
Historical buildings
Curry was not only involved with the design of new buildings, and such innovations as lighting and air conditioning systems, but as an active member of La Société Jersiaise he was concerned with the restoration of such historic buildings as Mont Orgueil Castle, St Saviour's Parish Church and St Ouen's Manor.
Family
Adolphus Curry married Beatrice Cookson. They had four children, Beatrice, Adolphus (known to family and friends as 'Dodd'), Doris and Herbert. Herbert emigrated to Ontario, Canada, in 1911, as did Adolphus Jnr's son Robert Montague some years later. Adolphus Curry died in 1910 at the age of 62. He is buried in the cemetery at St Saviour's Church, his grave marked by a small pink paving stone hardly befitting such an eminent architect.
Gallery of Curry's work
Click on any image to see a full-size version
Curry's Opera House, which was in turn destroyed by fire in 1921
Queen Victoria statue
Baudains Memorial
Jersey Ladies College
Jersey Western Railway terminal
Mont Orgueil Castle
St Saviour's Church
St Ouen's Manor in 1904
Midland Bank, Library Place
Victoria Club
Halkett Hotel
Sacre Coeur orphanage
