Hamilton Mausoleum and Hamilton Temple
Ten of us went on the first trip of 2023.
The plan was to walk from the Dalzell estate by Motherwell down the Clyde and over the river to the Mausoleum in Hamilton to meet out guide there. We also had a small bird watching side trip on the way.
At the Mausoleum, our guide was excellent. Factual, but with a dry humour, i.e. on the topic of the message the new Duke, a 4th cousin who never expected any level of succession, received as he inherited the title: (Billy Connolly Voice ON) "Congratulations Pal, you're a Duke. You've inherited £1m in debt and a massive house that costs a fortune to keep. Have a nice day" (Billy Connolly Voice OFF)
The Mausoleum itself is fascinating, from a now empty undercroft complete with original candleholders to an exquisite marble floor in the main body and an echo that lasts and lasts and lasts. Perhaps however the spooky bit was outside the undercroft which has three entrances: One with a sculpture of the face of life, one with a sculpture of the face of death and one with sculpture of the face of the afterlife. Now how does one explain that the life is eroded, death is part eroded and the afterlife is pristine?
On the way back we visited Lord Gavin Hamilton's Temple, rather smaller in scale and built after his wife's death in 1933 so he could sit and watch over her grave. Quite a poignant place, but in a beautiful location.