Allen Memorial In Southampton Cemetery

Allen Memorial in Southampton Cemetery

This neo-classical mausoleum dates to about 1900 and stands in Southampton Cemetery near Hill Lane. It is built of Portland stone ashlar blocks.

The mausoleum features a pedimented front in antis, with a Cross of St John carved in the tympanum. Below this runs a plain cornice and an inscribed frieze supported by two Ionic columns set on raised bases. The doorway is round-arched and contains a carved head, now heavily weathered so that its features are no longer discernible. On either side of the head are spandrels depicting two angels, one holding a trumpet and the other displaying the crown of life. The door itself consists of crude wooden planks. The rear (south) side of the mausoleum has a blind round-arched window with a window ledge below it. Along the lower edge of the east and west sides runs a band of decorative alternate crosses and fleur-de-lis.

The frieze carries a biblical quotation: "The Resurrection and the Life", referring to Jesus. The mausoleum bears several plaques on its sides. On the west side are two plaques, one inscribed to the memory of Araline Emma Allen and one blank. On the east side are two inscribed plaques, one to Araline Nicholas and the other to William Richard Nicholas. The lettering on both the frieze and plaques is of good quality.

Nothing is known of the Allen family's history, nor has the mausoleum's designer been identified. The memorial lies close to the Grade II Pearce Memorial in the south-west section of the cemetery.