The Beresford Vault

Browsing old maps, as one does, I came across an interesting circular feature with 'Burial Vault' marked in the centre. We knew the location and have seen the feature, which is a wood, many times from the A701 but had not attempted to visit. As the deciduous trees have now shed their leaves and the weather clear, dry and frosty, we thought it a good day to try.

Access was relatively straightforward from the Limekiln Road, bringing us to the entrance on the north side of the plantation, (just visible to the left of the trees, although there appears to be a gate in the wall on the south side). It was then a short walk up to the vault, which faces east/west, at the top of the mound. 

The building is described as category C listed and 'consists of a small pavilion-roofed building situated in the centre of a plantation a little to the East of Bankhead Quarry, erected to the memory of Sir William Montgomery but is now used as a family burying vault'.  In poor state, with vegetation growing, there are some gaps developing in stonework but the roof is still sound. The door and window have long since disappeared and we were able to go inside and examine the five stone slabs and wall-mounted memorials. Although the inscriptions were relatively clear, debris obscured some details, suffice to say the earliest was for William Montgomery who would have been born in the C17, Sir George Montgomery Bart born C18 and the Reverend John Isaac Beresford, ?late C18 who are noted as buried there. There is a stone to Sophia Beresford, also three marble memorials to  Massy-Beresfords.

The vault was built for the owners of Macbiehill House, (on the opposite side of Limekiln Road) for which I found an article written by a friend, I include an excerpt here:

It had a long pedigree, being built about 1600, (as a tower house, which was incorporated when rebuilt by William Burn in 1835) but was demolished about 1950.
It was owned by the Hamiltons of Coldcoat and Grange the last of the Hamiltons being Alexander who died in 1697. Before he died he managed to repair the house and in so doing contrived that there were exactly 15 sleeping places in the house, so that he might have it in his power to accommodate the whole of the 15 judges of the Court of Session without the necessity of putting two in one bed.


The Coldcoat estate was then acquired by William Montgomery of Magbiehill in Ayrshire, who transferred this name which later became Macbiehill. Three of this family are buried in a mausoleum on the estate.


Being short of extras, I have made a collage Top left, clockwise: view from approach from Limekilns Road; the entrance gate - note the cattle grid; view of west and north faces; view of entrance on east face.