Murland Tomb

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

Large classical tomb of c.1858-60 in sandstone with free Baroque detailing. The tomb was erected by and for members of the Murland family and stands in the graveyard surrounding Clough Non-subscribing Presbyterian Church, the N of Castlewellan Road, Clough.

The tomb is gabled and has a sunken doorway to its S gable. The door itself is in panelled iron, with a granite lintel inscribed ‘Murland’. There are stone steps to the door with stone coping and squat end piers to the edge of the stairwell.

Directly above the door lintel is a semicircular arched recess with arched opening filled with a decorative iron grill. The recess is surrounded by vermiculated voussoirs and a fluted keystone. To the edge to the gable are pairs of curved voluted pilasters with a narrow panel between each pair with moulded [?]staff motif between. The gable is topped with a pediment with recessed tympanum with moulded decoration between.

The rear gable repeats the arrangement of that to front, but without the stairwell. The E and W faces both largely similar with pairs of edge pilasters (as gables) and two single central pilasters. These separate three square panels in lighter stone.

The gabled roof consists of stone slabs with ridges between each slab with decorative stops to verge. The verge has a cornice course and at the corners are acroteria. To the gable apexes are draped urn finials. The whole structure has a bevelled and lined plinth.

Historical information

This tomb was built in c.1860 to house the remains of members of the Murland family. The Murlands were the descendants of James Murland (1774-1850), the founder of the Annsborough spinning mill and one of those instrumental in the building of Clough Non-subscribing Presbyterian Church (in graveyard of which this tomb is located).

References- Secondary sources
1 R.S.J. Clarke ‘Gravestone inscriptions vol.9’ (Belfast UHS ?1973), pp.24-25
2 ‘Historic buildings, groups of buildings….East Down’ (Belfast UAHS 1973), p.26
3 James Stevens Curl ‘Mausolea in Ulster’ (Belfast UAHS 1978) p.18

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

A. Style
B. Proportion
C. Ornamentation
D. Plan Form
I. Quality and survival of Interior
J. Setting
K. Group value

Criteria for listing: historic interest

V. Authorship
Z. Rarity
X. Local Interest

Evaluation

Very good example of a large classical tomb of c.1860 in sandstone with free Baroque detailing, built for the remains of members of the Murland family.