Seeing Stars

We were on our way up the A68 near Ancrum this afternoon when we saw a sign saying that the Mausoleum was open today. 

It was built for a Victorian Major General, just for himself (he'd inherited a lot of money when he was in his 60s.) He was still alive at the time it was constructed.

The dome, with the tinted glass stars, is reminiscent of the one in the RBS Banking Hall in Edinburgh - not surprising as it was designed by the same architect.

Underneath is an enormous stone sarcophagus, flanked by two very tall angels. Outside, the door is flanked by two stone lions, one awake and one asleep.

The monument has been restored recently, after a fundraising effort by local people, and it is looking good. The first time I went there the interior was very dark and dank, and I nearly jumped out of my skin when I saw those huge angels towering over me.

The General decreed that it was to remain 'locked for all time'. But at some point his remains were removed, and where they are buried no-one seems to know. There's a moral there somewhere.

The extra gives some idea of the size of those pink-winged angels.