Monteath Mausoleum

About Monteath Mausoleum

Standing high on the natural escarpment of Lilliards Edge, the Monteath Douglas Mausoleum (known locally as the Monteath Mausoleum) is a spectacular Victorian building with views northwards to the Eildon Hills and Smailholm Tower, southwards to the Waterloo Monument at Peniel Heugh and the distant borderlands of the Cheviot Hills.
It was built by an enigmatic General in 1864 solely for himself, after a lifetime in the British Army in India. No-one knows why he built it here, or why it is such an unusual design for a mausoleum. The entrance is guarded by two life-size stone lions, one awake and the other, mysteriously, asleep. Inside the crypt (key available from Ancrum village shop for a small fee) the tomb is watched over by two huge sculpted angels, possibly images of his daughters. High above, pale light filters down into the chamber from a domed roof pierced by 48 glazed stars. On sunny days the star shapes drift across the high stone walls.
Visitors are welcome to picnic in the grounds or simply enjoy the amazing views. There are information boards about the history of the mausoleum, and visitors can listen to an Audio Guided Tour on their phones, streamed from our website. The mausoleum makes a great destination for local walkers, cyclists and horse riders, or a useful break for those on a longer journey. It is a healthy ten minute walk from a lay-by on the A68.