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Neo-classical temple mausoleum; rectangular-plan,
4 by 6-bay cells on raised basement, polished ashlar with unfluted Roman
Doric pilaster order, entablature with triglyphs and guttae at frieze,
mutuled cornice and raking members, stylised acroteria on front (E)
pediment. Centre architraved door with frieze and cornice (now blocked,
original elaborate door now lost) and pair flanking niches on E front,
blind panels above. W elevation has semi-circular headed architraved
window flanked by niches.
Probably built contemporaneously with
Gillespie Graham's additions to Springwood house (now demolished), and
with entrance gateway and lodges, circa 1820. Said to have been
commissioned by Sir John James Scott
Douglas and consecrated by Bishop of Glasgow in 1838. Elaborate additions (statuary and tetrastyle portico) proposed by Brown and Wardrop, 1853, not executed.
Interior vandalised, and subsequently blocked (1989): evidently with
black and white marble floor; wall-mounted memorial panels to members of
the Scott-Douglas family contained within. (Historic Scotland)
The Springwood Park Estate has been sold and divided up, leaving the
mausoleum without access on the edge of a field. External inspection
reveals it to be vandalised and neglected. The door has been boarded up.
Local planners report that the owner of what is now Springwood Caravan
Park is keen to demolish the mausoleum due to the vandalism.
The
condition of the roof remains poor, but the stone details appear
remarkably intact.
Comment:
• McNaughton, D., The Story
of Springwood, Kelso, 1982, p.10. An undated and uncatalogued
perspective drawing of the mausoleum, attributable to Graham (who
designed the entrance gate to Springwood in 1822), is held at NMRS. The
mausoleum was consecrated by the Bishop of Glasgow in 1838 and 15 years
later it was proposed to add a portico to the building though this was
never executed (see NMRS plan RXD/326/18). An icehouse with a segmental
entrance was proposed in 1826 and a combined summerhouse and pheasantry
and a garden house were both designed for Springwood in 1853. The house
is now demolished and the estate adorned only with mobile caravans.
See also:
•
Douglas of Springwood
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