Recently I visited Carstairs mausoleum. It was erected by Dr William Fullerton in 1784 and placed at the end of a vista from the house. At one time the route to the Mausoleum was lined by mighty Beech trees but these have not survived the centuries and now the mausoleum is isolated and lost in a large field.
In 1782, two of Dr Fullerton’s children died, Betty and Thomas, then two years later his beloved wife Isabel died.
Below the entrance portico an inscribed tablet has fallen:
“SIBI ET SUIS EXTRUI CURAVIT CRUILIELMUS FULLERTON DE CARESTAIRS AD 1784.”
“In AD 1784 William Fullerton of Carstairs arranged for this to be erected for his and his own”
Dr Fullerton lived on for a further twenty years. After he died his son-in-law demolished the family mansion and rebuilt the rather monstrous Gothic pile that survives to this day.
To play this short film please click here or on the image below:
Unfinished. Beautiful. Everything.:
Music credits: Richard Hawley - "I remember you" and "Half the world" from the album Mid-Air The borrowed (stolen) words: are from "Grief is the thing with feathers" by Max Porter and "The Black Mirror" by Raymond Tallis
Hi, I came across this post a while ago, and then while researching Jellicoe drawings, your post on the great landscape architect. Enjoyed both. Moved by this one as am a “pale descendant’ of William Fullerton of Carstairs. I think he never made it as far as India though. I hope someone gives a little care to this place. Many thanks, Bill
How lovely to hear this Bill. Thank you for getting in touch. The ruinous mausoleum moved me. My wee films are homemade and try to recall stories.
aye Peter
Bridge of Allan