Historic Building Details

HB Ref No:
HB16/07/030 B

Address :
McMullan Mausoleum St Mary's RC Churchyard Castlewellan Road Cabra Newry Co Down BT34 5RA

Townland:
Cabragh

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Survey 2:
B2

Date of Listing:
22/09/1981 00:00:00

Date of De-listing:

Current Use:
Mausoleum

Former Use
Mausoleum

Conservation Area:
No

Industrial Archaeology:
No

Vernacular:
No

Thatched:
No

Monument:
No

Derelict:
No

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OS Map No:
254/6

IG Ref:
J2498 3325

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Owner Category

Church - RC

Exterior Description And Setting

Square mausoleum aligned W-E in front lawn of St Mary’s RC churchyard. All in finely dressed ashlar granite, it has a Greek cross shape pitched ashlar roof, in six ‘courses’ with a roll moulded ridge. Walls have a moulded two-stage plinth. West gable is raised and coped with cross finial and moulded kneelers. To its centre is a Gothic doorway with deep two-order chamfered reveal and a moulded hood over. Door is painted timber with beaded muntin, four plain flush-moulded bottom panels, and four to top which taper in line with door head. South gable is set lower than the W-E gables and steps out forming a double corner. It has a moulded coping and cross finial but no kneelers. Resting on the top of the plinth is a Gothic niche (with head as west door) inset with a slate memorial panel. Top of panel is incised with a cross, with IHS below, with the following text beneath, "This monument was erected / by / Alexander McMullan Esq / of / Cabra House / As the cemetery of his family / in the demise of his dearly beloved son Patrick Francis / who departed this life on the 29th May 1841 / in the 22nd year of his age / REQUISCAT IN PACE" East elevation is as west but without the door. Resting on the top of the plinth is a Gothic niche (as south elevation) inset with a slate memorial panel. The panel head is emblazoned with a white marble cartouche with three crescents (dexter chief point, sinister chief point, and middle base point), and a hand holding a dagger (fess). A similar hand and dagger crest rests above. Below is a motto "EXCELLIT / VIRTUS". Text incised below states. "Within this vault / are deposited / the remains of the late / Alexr. McMullan Esq. J.P. / of Cabra House / Who departed this life / on 25th of September 1849 / Aged 64 years / Deeply and deservedly regretted / in all who knew him as a man of/ sterling worth / one of the best parents and a sincere friend / REQUIESCATE IN PACE / AMEN. North gable is as south. Its panel has an incised cross, with IHS below and the following text beneath, "Within this vault / are disposed the remains of / MARY P. CARTLAN / Daughter of the Late A McMullan Esq / The beloved wife of Geo Henry Cartlan / of / Cabra House / who departed this life on the / 22nd Day of June 1856 aged 36 years / while living she left no duty unfulfilled / she was an affectionate daughter / a devoted wife an exemplary mother / and a sincere steady friend / she lived beloved / and died deeply regretted / may she rest in peace / AMEN". Enclosing this structure is a chamfered ashlar granite dwarf wall, upon which rests cast iron railings, which have foliated spearheads and are quite similar to those enclosing the front of the churchyard (see HB16/07/030A). The west side has a similar gate, with dog bars.

Architects

Not Known

Historical Information

Appears on 1859 OS 6” map. Was presumably erected in 1841on the death of Patrick Francis McMullan. Associations with Cabra House (HB16/07/031). Primary Sources 1. 2nd OS 6” map (1859), Co Down sheet 42.

Criteria for Listing

Architectural Interest

A. Style B. Proportion C. Ornamentation D. Plan Form J. Setting

Historic Interest

X. Local Interest Z. Rarity

Evaluation

A large, attractive and well-detailed mid 19th C Gothic-Revival mausoleum, a building type which is uncommon in Roman Catholic churchyards of the locality.

General Comments

Date of Survey

12 February 1999