The Ferguson Mausoleum, Carmavy Graveyard, Carmavy Road, Nutts Corner, Crumlin, Co Antrim

The Ferguson Mausoleum is a late Georgian, circular stone-vaulted mausoleum situated within Carmavy Graveyard, along Carmavy Road near Nutts Corner, Crumlin, Co Antrim. It stands in a pleasant and historic graveyard setting.

The mausoleum is single-storey and built of basalt rubble and field stones, topped with a conical stone roof. The south-facing entrance has a segmental arched opening with rough stone voussoirs and splayed reveals, leading to a raised floor area via one step and a spiked iron gate. The walls have smeared cement pointing, and a slightly projecting eaves course, with some grass growing from the stone roof. The graveyard in which it stands is enclosed by walls and is located in a rural area. It is positioned on an east-west axis between two other mausolea, surrounded by grass.

The mausoleum was built by Samuel Ferguson of Bellyhill as a memorial to family members. While the precise construction date is unknown, it likely dates to around 1817 or shortly thereafter. Initially, the vault commemorated Samuel Carson (died 1775), Agnes Ferguson (died 1814), Jane Ferguson (died 1817), and Margaret Ferguson (died 1815). Later, Grace Elizabeth Drennan (died 1974) was also commemorated, and the mausoleum was repaired by her estate’s executors in 1975. It is listed as plot no. 251 in the graveyard register. Carmavy Graveyard itself is designated a historic monument (ANT55:47).