Trudy Mirza, with the assistance of the Société Jersiaise’s newly formed Architecture Section, is undertaking the ambitious task of producing a catalogue raisonne of the architect and civil engineer Adolphus Curry – one of Jersey’s most famous sons. While Curry’s name and some of his buildings will be familiar to many islanders, a resource which explores the full range of his work in Jersey has never been available to the general public – an omission the Société is keen to correct.
Curry was born in Library Place in 1848. He attended Victoria College, belonged to three Masonic Lodges, and was a prominent member of the United Club which flew its flag at half-mast when he died. He was also a member of the Société, served on the Executive, was instrumental in the creation of the Museum, and supervised the conservation of many of the island’s historic buildings. This included St Saviour’s Parish Church where he is buried.
Trudy states: “It’s hard to overestimate Curry’s influence on modern Jersey. If you’ve ever attended a show at the Opera House, visited Mont Orgueil or shopped in de Gruchy’s, you’ve been in a building Curry designed, restored or altered.”
Trudy urges anyone who knows of drawings, correspondence or photos of Adolphus Curry and his family to get in touch. She is particularly hopeful that a copy of a PhD dissertation which was written by an islander several years ago, but which unfortunately is no longer in the possession of its author or on deposit anywhere, will turn up.
