Mausoleum of Sir Richard and Lady Burton

Last updated

Mausoleum of Sir Richard and Lady Burton
Sir Richard Burton's Tomb.jpg
Mausoleum of Sir Richard and Lady Burton
General information
Type Mausoleum
Address61 North Worple Way, Mortlake, London SW14 8PR
Town or cityMortlake, London Borough of Richmond upon Thames
Country England
Coordinates 51°28′06″N0°15′41″W / 51.46846°N 0.26143°W / 51.46846; -0.26143
Listed Building – Grade II*
Official nameMausoleum of Sir Richard and Lady Burton, Churchyard of St Mary Magdalen
Designated30 October 1973
Reference no.1065392

The Mausoleum of Sir Richard and Lady Burton is a Grade II* listed [1] tent-shaped mausoleum of Carrara marble and Forest of Dean stone in the churchyard of St Mary Magdalen Roman Catholic Church Mortlake in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames. [1] It contains the tombs of the Victorian explorer Sir Richard Burton (1821–90), who took part in the search for the source of the River Nile and translated The Arabian Nights , and his wife Isabel, Lady Burton (1831–96), who designed it. [2] The coffins of Sir Richard and Lady Burton can be seen through a glass panel [1] at the rear of the tent, which can be accessed via a short fixed ladder. The inscription includes a commemorative sonnet by Justin Huntly McCarthy (1859–1936), who lived in Putney. [3]

Contents

The mausoleum was completed in time for Sir Richard's funeral at the church on 15 June 1891. [4] It was restored in 1975 [4] and, with the support of the Friends of Burton and the Environment Trust for Richmond upon Thames, in 2012–13. [5] It is now maintained by Habitats & Heritage.

Close-up of inscription on the mausoleum Richard Francis Burton Enscriptions.jpg
Close-up of inscription on the mausoleum

Next to the lady chapel in the church there is a memorial stained-glass window to Burton, erected by his widow. [6]

Architecture

Burtons' mausoleum is carved from sandstone in the shape of the tent that the couple used for expeditions into the Syrian desert. [7] The building is decorated with symbols of both Islam and Christianity, reflecting the Catholicism of Isabel Burton and Burton's fascination with Middle Eastern philosophy and religion.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Barnes, London</span> Area of south-west London, England

Barnes is a district in south London, England, part of the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames. It takes up the extreme north-east of the borough, and as such is the closest part of the borough to central London. It is centred 5.8 miles (9.3 km) west south-west of Charing Cross in a bend of the River Thames.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mortlake</span> Human settlement in England

Mortlake is a suburban district of the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames on the south bank of the River Thames between Kew and Barnes. Historically it was part of Surrey and until 1965 was in the Municipal Borough of Barnes. For many centuries it had village status and extended far to the south, to include East Sheen and part of what is now Richmond Park. Its Stuart and Georgian history was economically one of malting, brewing, farming, watermen and the Mortlake Tapestry Works (1617–1704), Britain's most important producer. A London landmark, the former Mortlake Brewery or Stag Brewery, is on the edge of Mortlake.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">East Sheen</span> Suburb of London in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames

East Sheen, also known as Sheen, is a suburb in south-west London in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St Mary's Church, Barnes</span> Church in England

St Mary's Church, Barnes, is the parish church of Barnes, formerly in Surrey and now in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames. It is a Grade II* listed building.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Richmond Green</span> Park in Richmond, London, England

Richmond Green is a recreation area near the centre of Richmond, a town of about 20,000 inhabitants situated in south-west London. Owned by the Crown Estate, it is leased to the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames. The Green, which has been described as "one of the most beautiful urban greens surviving anywhere in England", is roughly square in shape and its open grassland, framed with broadleaf trees, extends to roughly twelve acres. On the north-east side there is also a smaller open space called Little Green. Richmond Green and Little Green are overlooked by a mixture of period townhouses, historic buildings and municipal and commercial establishments including the Richmond Lending Library and Richmond Theatre.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Isabel Burton</span> English writer, explorer and adventurer, wife and partner of Sir Richard Francis Burton

Isabel Burton, later known as Lady Burton, was an English writer, explorer and adventurer. She was the wife and partner of the explorer, adventurer, and writer Sir Richard Francis Burton (1821–1890).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St Peter's Church, Petersham</span> Church in England

St Peter's Church is the parish church of the village of Petersham in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames. It is part of the Diocese of Southwark in the Church of England. The main body of the church building dates from the 16th century, although parts of the chancel date from the 13th century, and evidence in Domesday Book suggests that there may have been a church on the site in Saxon times. Nikolaus Pevsner and Bridget Cherry describe it as a "church of uncommon charm... [whose] interior is well preserved in its pre-Victorian state". The church, which is Grade II* listed, includes Georgian box pews, a two-decker pulpit made in 1796, and a display of the royal arms of the House of Hanover, installed in 1810. Its classical organ was installed at the south end in late 2009 by the Swiss builders Manufacture d'Orgues St Martin of Neuchâtel, and a separate parish room was added in 2018. Many notable people are buried in the churchyard, which includes some Grade II-listed tombs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St Anne's Church, Kew</span> Church in England

St Anne's Church, Kew, is a parish church in Kew in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames. The building, which dates from 1714, and is Grade II* listed, forms the central focus of Kew Green. The raised churchyard, which is on three sides of the church, has two Grade II* listed monuments – the tombs of the artists Johan Zoffany and Thomas Gainsborough. The French Impressionist painter Camille Pissarro (1830–1903), who stayed in 1892 at 10 Kew Green, portrayed St Anne's in his painting Church at Kew (1892).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St Mary the Virgin, Mortlake</span> Church in London

St Mary the Virgin, Mortlake, is a parish church in Mortlake, in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames. It is part of the Church of England and the Anglican Communion. The rector is The Revd Canon Dr Ann Nickson.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St Mary Magdalen Roman Catholic Church, Mortlake</span> Church in Mortlake, London

St Mary Magdalen Roman Catholic Church, Mortlake, is a Roman Catholic church in North Worple Way, Mortlake, in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames. The church is dedicated to Jesus' companion Mary Magdalene. It is located just south of Mortlake High Street and the Anglican St Mary the Virgin Church. St Mary Magdalen's Catholic Primary School is just north of the churchyard.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St Mary's Church, Twickenham</span> Church in England

St Mary's Church, Twickenham, also known as St Mary the Virgin, Twickenham, is a Grade II* listed Church of England place of worship dedicated to Saint Mary the Virgin. It is on Church Street, Twickenham in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames, England.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kilmorey Mausoleum</span> Mausoleum in London Borough of Richmond upon Thames, England

The Kilmorey Mausoleum, in St Margarets in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames, is a Grade II* listed mausoleum in the style of an ancient Egyptian monument and has been described as a "fine example of an Egyptian-style mausoleum, with an unusually good interior". Designed by Henry Edward Kendall Jr. (1805–1885) and built, at a cost of £30,000, in pink and grey granite with a bronze door, it was commissioned in the 1850s by the 2nd Earl of Kilmorey (1787–1880) and contains the bodies of the Earl and his mistress, Priscilla Anne Hoste (1823–1854).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Christ Church, East Sheen</span> Church in England

Christ Church, East Sheen, is an inclusive and welcoming Church of England church on Christ Church Road, East Sheen, in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames. Part of the Diocese of Southwark the Parish of Mortlake with East Sheen is served by the Mortlake team ministry, with other churches being St Mary’s Mortlake and All Saints East Sheen.

Christ Church is open daily.

The church is a place of prayer, music and peace offering a welcome to worship to all.

There is an active music life at the church with a new choral scholarship and choristership programme launched in January 2023, and a concert series

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Habitats & Heritage</span> English charity

Habitats & Heritage is a registered charity based at East Twickenham in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames. It works in the London Boroughs of Richmond; Hounslow; Kingston; Wandsworth; Ealing; and Merton. It aims to understand the deep connection between urban nature and history by taking care of the local landscape; its wildlife, ecosystems and heritage.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St Leonard's Court</span> Residential block of flats in London Borough of Richmond upon Thames, England

St Leonard's Court is a four-storey block of flats on Palmers Road, off St Leonard's Road in East Sheen, London SW14 in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames, 0.2 miles from Mortlake railway station. It was constructed between 1934 and 1938 and is remarkable for its surviving underground air raid shelter, built in anticipation of the Second World War and now Grade II listed.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bazalgette Mausoleum</span> Mausoleum in Wimbledon, London

The Sir Joseph Bazalgette Mausoleum is a Grade II listed structure currently on Historic England’s Heritage-at-Risk Register. It stands in the grounds of St Mary's Church, Wimbledon, in the London Borough of Merton. The mausoleum is the final resting place of the noted Victorian engineer Sir Joseph Bazalgette and many members of his family.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mortlake High Street</span> Street in London, England

Mortlake High Street is a street running through Mortlake in west London in England, United Kingdom. Located in the London Borough of Richmond, it is the historic high street of Mortlake dating back several centuries. It runs from east to west, beginning at the The Terrace, Barnes and running parallel to the southern bank of the River Thames and finishing at Mortlake Green close to Mortlake railway station and the site of the former Mortlake Brewery. It forms part of the A3003 road.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Historic England. "Mausoleum of Sir Richard and Lady Burton, Churchyard of St Mary Magdalen (1065392)". National Heritage List for England . Retrieved 26 May 2015.
  2. Bridget Cherry and Nikolaus Pevsner (1983). The Buildings of England  – London 2: South. London: Penguin Books. p. 513. ISBN   0-14-0710-47-7.
  3. "Deaths." The Times [London, England] 23 March 1936: 1. The Times Digital Archive. Web. 31 May 2015.
  4. 1 2 "After Sir Richard Burton's death". Local study notes. London Borough of Richmond upon Thames. 3 August 2009. Retrieved 24 February 2015.
  5. Amy Dyduch (24 October 2013). "Victorian explorer's Mortlake mausoleum restoration celebrated". Richmond and Twickenham Times . Retrieved 27 October 2013.
  6. "About the Church: The Tomb of Sir Richard Burton". St Mary Magdalen Roman Catholic Church Mortlake . Retrieved 24 February 2015.
  7. "Burtons' Mausoleum". Habitats & Heritage. Retrieved 7 July 2022.