Mausoleum Of Sir James Tillie, Mount Ararat

PILLATON SX 46 SW 6/241 Mausoleum of Sir James Tillie, Mount Ararat 23.1.68 GV II* Mausoleum. Early C18. Slatestone rubble with brick dressings. Plan: Square plan tower, set within a square plan walled enclosure; the tower has a 2-storey porch. Pictureque Gothic style. Exterior: 3-stage tower, each stage set back slightly, with brick string courses, embattled parapet. The 2-storey porch tower also has an embattled parapet, with a round brick arch to the front, inner entrance blocked, with a small single light inserted. At the right side there is a round-arched brick blocked opening, probably originally a door. Left side has similar blocked window. Rear has small opening in the second stage. The walls surrounding the tower are in rubble, with buttresses to the outer side; in the centre at the front the walls are ramped up to a pair of square plan rubble piers with cornices. Flight of 10 stone steps to front with flanking walls partly collapsed. Interior: Plastered walls; roof and first floor gone. On the rear wall is a segmental arch with putto as keystone, panels to sides with flowers; seated on a pedestal to front is a plaster statue of Sir James Tillie. Sir James Tillie died on 17th November, 1713. He ordered that when he died, he should not be buried, but his body should be fastened in the chair where he died, and set "in a walled vault or grot" with a view over Plymouth Sound and Harbour, wearing his hat, wig, rings etc. Circa 1770, the body was removed, and replaced by the plaster statue. The statue is said to be plaster, but may be plastered over some other material. Sources: Country Life, December 17, 1938.

Listing NGR: SX4067865121