Mausoleum Of Greenwich Hospital In Grounds Of Number 40

TQ 3977 MAZE HILL

786-/27/10020 Mausoleum of Greenwich Hospital in grounds of no 40

GV II

Mausoleum. Built under the direction of Nicholas Hawksmoor in 1713-14 to serve as a mausoleum for the use of the officers of the Greenwich Hospital and their families. Richard Billingshurst was the bricklayer. Reroofed and arched openings filled up c1820. A 3-bay single storey structure of brown brick with rubbed red brick dressings, stone coping and slate roof End pediments with brick pilasters and round-headed arch with C20 plank door. The 3 arched openings on the north side have been partially bricked in, partially glazed in and the central opening now has a door. The floor inside is paved with stone slabs. Below the structure is a 3 bay groined vault of brick with a floor probably of beaten earth. At the time of inspection this was full of intact, semi-preserved and collapsed coffins of lead and wood together with the decayed relics of their former charges. Some iron bars, and a curved section of brickwork on the west (or park) side show where the entrance to the vault originally was. This structure ceased to be used for interments in the late 1740s. Shown on 1749 engraving of Greenwich Park in London Magazine, but with original triple gabled roof with higher central section.

[See Mrs Basil Holmes, "The London Burial Grounds" 1896 p.178 and p.313].

Listing NGR: TQ3913877750