Mausoleum Of Sir Richard And Lady Burton, Churchyard Of St Mary Magdalen

22/13/4 NORTH WORPLE WAY 30-OCT-73 Mortlake Mausoleum of Sir Richard and Lady Burt on, churchyard of the Roman Catholic S t Mary Magdalen (Formerly listed as: NORTH WORPLE WAY Mortlake Mausoleum of Sir Richard and Lady Burt on, churchyard of St Mary Magdalen) (Formerly listed as: NORTH WORPLE WAY SW14 Mortlake Mausoleum of Sir Richard Burton in the churchyard of Church of St Mary Magda len)

II* Mausoleum. c1890. Mausoleum in the shape of a Bedouin tent made of Carrara marble and Forest of Dean stone, 12 feet square and 18 feet high.The roof has a gilt tailed 9 point star, the pelmet was enriched with stars and crescents, and the rear originally had a stained glass panel showing the Burton monogram, now replaced in clear glass. Entrance, now blocked, has a crucifix above. Door has inscription "To Sir Richard Francis Burton 1821-1890 and Isabel d.1896". Beneath is a poem by Justin Huntly McCarthy. Interior, visible through rear glass panel contains above ground ornate tapering coffin with extensive gilt enrichment for Sir Richard Burton, with crucifix and camel bells. There is a more conventional mahogany coffin for Lady Burton. Painted roof representing the heavens with stars and seraphim and strings of camel bells. Shrine to rear wall and religious paintings of Christ with Magdalene and Crucifixion to sides and Arabic lamps on floor. This burial was a response to Sir Richard Burton's horror of darkness. An extra ordinary mixture of chapelle ardente and Bedouin tent.