Monteath Mausoleum
History
Thomas Monteath was a Victorian soldier born in 1788 to a Scottish father and English mother. He joined the 35th regiment of the Bengal Infantry at the age of 19 and spent most of his military career in northern India (now Pakistan) defending the border region with Afghanistan. Rising steadily through the ranks, he became a Major General in 1854 and was Knighted by Queen Victoria in1865. At the age of 62 he inherited the Douglas Support fortune, a condition of which was to append the name 'Douglas' to his own.
It is unclear why he chose this site at Gersit Law for his mausoleum, as his family hails from Lanarkshire. However, his youngest daughter had married William Scott of Ancrum, son of the Liberal MP for Roxburghshire, who owned this land which overlooks the historic Battle of Ancrum Moor (1545) where Scottish forces routed the English during Henry Eighths "rough wooing". Where better for an old soldier with a fortune to erect a monument to himself?
The building was completed during his lifetime, to a design by Peddie and Kinnear of Edinburgh, using local craftsmen including Hawick sculptor Alexander Pirnie, who created the magnificent lions guarding the entrance and the angels inside the crypt.
This was the outside of the Mausoleum in 2014
Restoration
Local volunteers set up the Friends of the Monteath Mausoleum after coming across the ivy-clad remains of the building during a walk along Lilliards Edge one summer afternoon in 2014. Under the chairmanship of David Freeman, they campaigned for funding to fully restore the building, and with financial assistance from Fallago Environment Fund, FCC Communities Foundation and local charity BCCF, this was achieved in March 2018. Building works began in October that year. The final task of painting the 672 railings was completed by volunteers in the last few weeks prior to the official opening in July 2019. The mausoleum site is now open to walkers, cyclists and horse riders every day of the year. Visitors can obtain a key for the crypt (to see the angels and star-studded roof) from the Lothian Estate Office, Bonjedward, Jedburgh, TD8 6UF during normal office hours, for a small fee. Additionally, there are twelve Open Days a year, when the track from the A68 up to the car park is open for vehicles, and a guide is available to answer questions and assist less-abled visitors and families enjoy the surroundings. Details of the current Open Days can be found on the Friends website
Angels overlooking the sarcophagus
Images from Phoenix Photography Scotland'
Interesting facts
Monteath Douglas designed the mausoleum solely for himself, there is no room inside for any other occupants.
During high winds the building resonates slightly, producing a low-pitched rumble, which to some people sounds like moaning.
The two 'angels' in the crypt are possibly statues of his daughters, though there are no known pictures of them to confirm this.
The sarcophagus does not contain a coffin. The whereabouts of Monteath Douglas' remains is unknown.
The star studded roof
© Friends of the Monteath Mausoleum
Images from Phoenix Photography Scotland