Alexander Vault, Cavanacaw, Pomeroy, Co Tyrone

Alexander Vault, Cavanacaw

This is a mausoleum of mid-Victorian date, probably around 1870, built as a burial place and memorial to the prominent local Lowry family. The family had been responsible for the formal layout and development of the village of Pomeroy from 1770 and were patrons and builders of other local buildings including Altadesert Parish Church and Pomeroy House.

The vault displays a hybrid architectural style, merging classical elements with Tudor and Gothic detailing. The entrance front faces north and is symmetrical with three openings: a central entrance flanked by two blind arched panels. The walling is smooth cement rendered, lined and blocked, with a moulded sandstone stringcourse near the top surmounted by a rendered frieze and moulded sandstone cornice. The render is now heavily cracked with missing portions exposing the masonry carcase behind. A pilaster-like element at the right extremity has deep projecting moulded cornice and plinth blocks. The central entrance consists of a four-panelled rectangular plate-iron door recessed between a pair of multi-fluted sandstone columns of ornamental Doric type, set on moulded circular bases and surmounted by a plain Doric entablature. The blind panel to the right is recessed in a steep Tudor arched opening and bears a slate inscription panel commemorating Robert William Lowry, JP and DL, 1786–1869. The blind panel to the left has a crudely formed curvilinear arched opening, distorted by careless cement repairs, and bears no inscription.

The east wall is of rubble stonework with block quoins, the stringcourse returning from the entrance front. The wall is raked at an angle rising towards the front elevation and capped by an overhanging concrete slab roof. Evidence remains of a large opening later built up. The rear elevation is of rubble stonework overhung by the concrete slab roof. The west elevation is faced with ashlar sandstone blocks in regular courses with a projecting plain sandstone plinth, a heavily moulded sandstone cornice breaking forward in the centre above a moulded bracket and at the left extremity above a projecting sandstone pilaster. The pilaster at the right extremity is missing, revealing its outline in exposed rubble masonry. The cornice is incomplete at the right end. Set in the centre of this wall immediately below the corbel is a large square sandstone panel bearing what are presumed to be the arms of the Lowry family, carved in high relief and now damaged.

The vault is surrounded by a low plinth wall of squared sandstone blocks to the outside and rubble stonework to the inside, with weathered sandstone coping. Mounted on this wall are cast iron railings detailed in Gothic style, featuring cusped Gothic arcading and fleur-de-lys finials, terminated at the corners by slightly taller octagonal posts with Gothic panelled bases and supported at intervals by ogee Gothic arched brackets. The railings are largely intact along the front and west side; much of the remainder has been dismantled, with some pieces broken and stacked along the rear wall. A gate of similar design to the railings is mounted on posts of similar design in the middle of the front railing set, on axis with the vault entrance.

The ground within the boundary railings is laid with gravel. Outside the railings is open grassland on all sides. Only two monkey puzzle trees remain standing of what was reportedly an avenue extending from the field boundary at the public road, across the face of the vault enclosure to a path to the east.

Although missing some stonework facing elements and repaired in places, the original overall appearance of the vault remains discernible. The major part, if not all, of the boundary railings appear available for re-erection, and the entire structure seems capable of reinstatement. Despite the partial loss of its original setting, it remains an intriguing element in the landscape and a structure of considerable local interest with special association with the locality.