McMullan Mausoleum

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

Square mausoleum aligned W-E in front lawn of St Mary’s RC churchyard. All in finely dressed ashlar granite, it has a Greek cross shape pitched ashlar roof, in six ‘courses’ with a roll moulded ridge. Walls have a moulded two-stage plinth.

West gable is raised and coped with cross finial and moulded kneelers. To its centre is a Gothic doorway with deep two-order chamfered reveal and a moulded hood over. Door is painted timber with beaded muntin, four plain flush-moulded bottom panels, and four to top which taper in line with door head.

South gable is set lower than the W-E gables and steps out forming a double corner. It has a moulded coping and cross finial but no kneelers. Resting on the top of the plinth is a Gothic niche (with head as west door) inset with a slate memorial panel. Top of panel is incised with a cross, with IHS below, with the following text beneath, "This monument was erected / by / Alexander McMullan Esq / of / Cabra House / As the cemetery of his family / in the demise of his dearly beloved son Patrick Francis / who departed this life on the 29th May 1841 / in the 22nd year of his age / REQUISCAT IN PACE"

East elevation is as west but without the door. Resting on the top of the plinth is a Gothic niche (as south elevation) inset with a slate memorial panel. The panel head is emblazoned with a white marble cartouche with three crescents (dexter chief point, sinister chief point, and middle base point), and a hand holding a dagger (fess). A similar hand and dagger crest rests above. Below is a motto "EXCELLIT / VIRTUS".

Text incised below states. "Within this vault / are deposited / the remains of the late / Alexr. McMullan Esq. J.P. / of Cabra House / Who departed this life / on 25th of September 1849 / Aged 64 years / Deeply and deservedly regretted / in all who knew him as a man of/ sterling worth / one of the best parents and a sincere friend / REQUIESCATE IN PACE / AMEN.

North gable is as south. Its panel has an incised cross, with IHS below and the following text beneath, "Within this vault / are disposed the remains of / MARY P. CARTLAN / Daughter of the Late A McMullan Esq / The beloved wife of Geo Henry Cartlan / of / Cabra House / who departed this life on the / 22nd Day of June 1856 aged 36 years / while living she left no duty unfulfilled / she was an affectionate daughter / a devoted wife an exemplary mother / and a sincere steady friend / she lived beloved / and died deeply regretted / may she rest in peace / AMEN".

Enclosing this structure is a chamfered ashlar granite dwarf wall, upon which rests cast iron railings, which have foliated spearheads and are quite similar to those enclosing the front of the churchyard (see HB16/07/030A). The west side has a similar gate, with dog bars.

Historical information

Appears on 1859 OS 6” map. Was presumably erected in 1841on the death of Patrick Francis McMullan. Associations with Cabra House (HB16/07/031).

Primary Sources

1. 2nd OS 6” map (1859), Co Down sheet 42.

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

A. Style
B. Proportion
C. Ornamentation
D. Plan Form
J. Setting

Criteria for listing: historic interest

Z. Rarity
X. Local Interest

Evaluation

A large, attractive and well-detailed mid 19th C Gothic-Revival mausoleum, a building type which is uncommon in Roman Catholic churchyards of the locality.