For a listed building with 200 years of history that is the only one of its kind in Nottinghamshire, the Milton Mausoleum is easy to miss. Located off the A1 at Markham Moor, thousands of drivers every day will perhaps unknowingly be within touching distance of a monument with connections to one of the area's most prestigious historical families.
A mausoleum is defined as a monument containing the internment space or burial chamber of a deceased person or people, and Milton's pays tribute to Georgiana, the fourth Duchess of Newcastle. The monument was built by Georgiana's husband, the fourth Duke of Newcastle and the former Lieutenant of Nottinghamshire, Henry Pelham-Clinton.
Volunteers who have been crucial in caring for the building in recent years are now preparing to mark the 200th anniversary of Georgiana's death. It marks a significant milestone for a monument that has had something of a chequered history, with the 1980s witnessing vandals entering the mausoleum and even smashing some of the coffins buried within.
READ MORE: Neighbours describe road where 'accidents happen all the time'
Jenny Foulds, 75, the Vice-Chair of the Friends of the Mausoleum Committee, said: "There were a lot of problems with people breaking in and I think that people believed that the gentry were buried with their finery, which might explain why they did it. They managed to get in several times and to smash the coffins and it was all a bit macabre."
One report from the Sheffield Morning Telegraph at the time noted that the "looting has stunned residents" who were "convinced the incident has nothing to do with Black Magic or witchcraft." The witchcraft rumours started when one resident "claimed she had seen figures dancing around in the building. She said it was like a form of ritual ceremony, including weird ballet dancing."
Such rumours were not given much notice by police and the building continued to fall into something of a state of disrepair. Jenny's husband Dave, 78, who also volunteers at the mausoleum, said: "A lot of the windows had been smashed and there was ivy growing all over the place. A lot of the interior was exposed to the weather for some time which is why we think there is some of the damage you see today."
The fourth Duke of Newcastle married Georgiana Elizabeth in 1807. Georgiana was the daughter of the Derbyshire Tory MP and landowner Edward Miller Mundy, and she and her husband went on to have 14 children.
But it was whilst giving birth to twins in 1822 that Georgiana died, with neither baby surviving. Soon after his wife's death, the Duke decided to build Milton Mausoleum, which became the new parish church for the area upon completion.
The Duke never married again and died at his home in Clumber Park in 1851, whilst the Duke of Newcastle title became extinct with the death of Edward Charles Pelham-Clinton in 1988. It was in 1949 that the representative for the then Duke of Newcastle said that he could no longer contribute to the upkeep of Milton, with the parish church then being reinstated at West Markham and the mausoleum's period of abandonment beginning.
This period came to an end in 1972 when the Churches Conservation Trust, then known as the Redundant Churches Fund, took on the restoration of the building. Further help came in 2015, when the Friends of the Mausoleum group was established.
Ever since, fundraising events have been held regularly at the mausoleum and it is open to the public every Sunday during the summer between 2 and 4pm, though groups can request to look round outside of these times. Following the 1980s vandalism, the vault containing the coffins has been permanently sealed off.
Jenny Foulds said: "We are in a constant state of fundraising to keep the place going but the Churches Conservation Trust do the major work. The next major bit of work that needs doing is the part of the floor but to put everything right, it would cost millions.
"We are lucky in that we do have very loyal supporters and when some people come to look at the building and all of its history, they say that we should be putting our prices much higher. But we'd rather keep that regular support going."
To mark the 200th anniversary of Georgiana's passing, the next event held at the mausoleum will be a reflection on her life. Held on Sunday, (September 25), the event will comprise a short service with readings from figures including Dr Richard Gaunt, an Associate Professor of History at the University of Nottingham.
Lady Patricia Pelham Clinton-Hope, the great, great, great granddaughter of Georgiana who lives in the US and who has previously visited the mausoleum, is set to give a reading via video link. Those wishing to reserve a seat can contact milton.mausoleum@outlook.com
READ NEXT:
- Damage left in street after police rush to scene of crash
- Teacher went into Bulwell food bank after three days of not eating
- Queen's funeral Bank Holiday working rules as guidance issued on taking the day off
- Family 'in crisis' as son with rare brain condition's care reduced
- New café with a warm and welcoming focus to open on busy high street in Nottingham
