Mausoleum, Wall And Screen

Mausoleum, Wall and Screen, Brocklesby Park

This circular mausoleum was designed by James Wyatt and completed in 1792. It stands on a low mound, traditionally believed to be a Roman burial place, and is surrounded by a low wall with cast iron railings.

The exterior is constructed in ashlar with a copper dome. The building sits on a moulded plinth above a rusticated basement containing the tomb chamber. The basement is pierced by three round-headed louvered openings fitted with cast iron grilles and decorated beneath with reliefs of sarcophagi and wreaths. Access to the tomb chamber is gained through a door set beneath the entrance platform; opposite this door is a recess bearing an inscription crediting "James Wyatt Esq.r Arch.t".

The main storey comprises twelve fluted Roman Doric columns with paterae in the necking. These columns support a frieze decorated with swags, paterae and bucrania, and a dentillated cornice. Above this rises the great copper dome, surrounded by a balustrade and crowned with an ashlar lantern whose sides are decorated with S-shaped flutes. The columns screen the circular cella, which has a plinth and plain string course. Within the cella are four hemispherical-headed niches, each containing a freestanding sarcophagus on an apsidal-ended panelled base.

The entrance on the north side is approached by a shallow flight of steps above a rusticated ramp flanked by two angled flights. The two-leaved panelled door has a moulded stone surround topped with a shallow cornice on scrolled brackets. Above the door is a tablet inscribed "To the memory of Sophia, the wife of C. A. Pelham, who died Jan. XXV MDCCLXXXVI Aged XXXIII", with a moulded stone surround. On either side of the door are single hemispherical-headed niches containing sarcophagi on panelled apsidal-ended bases. The sarcophagi are ornamented with two scrolls above, S-shaped flutes, and panels containing acanthus decoration, lion's feet and guilloche moulded panels. The soffit between the entablature and cella is decorated with square sunk panels containing paterae.

The interior contains eight marble Corinthian columns arranged in pairs, supporting a moulded entablature and a richly coffered domed roof. At the centre of the dome is a glazed and painted lantern featuring paintings of ethereal angels by Francis Eginton. The floor is patterned marble inlaid with brass and surrounded by fine brass rails, with a further outer frieze of Greek Key ornament. At the centre stands a white marble statue of Sophia carved by Joseph Nollekens, depicted standing on a pedestal with S-shaped flutes and mounted on a slate plinth.

Three recesses contain tombs commemorating members of the Pelham family. One commemorates William Pelham (died 1587) and features a draped mourning putto and an undraped female figure. A second commemorates Charles Pelham Esq. (died 1763) with a sarcophagus and a female mourning figure regarding his portrait. A third commemorates Francis Anderson Esq. (died 1758) with a sarcophagus bearing armorials and two mourning putti, one holding a ring of Eternity. A wall plaque to the right of the door, decorated with a semi-circular pediment and scagliola work in panels, lists the names of Pelhams deceased since 1786 and buried in the mausoleum.

The mausoleum is surrounded by a screen of sturdy iron railings interrupted by twelve ashlar neo-classical sarcophagi, each ornamented with pediments, swags and rams' heads.