Mausoleum Approximately 10 Metres North West Of North Aisle Of Church Of St Mary The Virgin

MAULDEN

TL 0438 CHURCH ROAD

12/61 Mausoleum approx. 10 23.1.61 metres NW of N aisle of Church of St Mary the Virgin

GV II

Mausoleum, containing the Bruce family remains. 1859 rebuilding, probably by Benjamin Ferrey, of the 1656 structure erected by Thomas Bruce, 1st Earl of Elgin. Stands on vaulted crypt, thought to be of medieval origin. Coursed ironstone with ashlar dressings. Hipped clay tile roof with bands of fishscale tiles. Small single-storeyed structure of elongated octagonal plan. Diagonal buttresses to each angle. Moulded parapet has rather worn frieze. W and E elevations each have small circular quatrefoiled window. Pointed-arched doorway to S elevation, surmounted by carved stone crest. Interior: To N elevation is monument to Diana, Countess of Elgin, erected 1656, thought to be by Thomas Burman. Consists of rather architectural marble sarcophagus, with gadrooning to middle and to surmounting basin. Carved cartouche to front and surmounting half-figure of Lady Elgin, dressed in a shroud and pointing heavenwards, have been removed. Round-arched niches to W and E formerly contained marble busts (now also removed) of Thomas Bruce, 1st Earl of Elgin, d.1663 and toward Bruce his grandson, d.1663, botn attributed to John Bushnell. Crypt contains plain late C12 font. M.S.F. George "The Elgin Marbles of Maulden", Bedfordshire Magazine, vol II, pp 60-68.

Listing NGR: TL0582738067