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Church of Saint John the Baptist (Rathconnell)

mausoleum
Church of Saint John the Baptist (Rathconnell)
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What is recorded here

Freestanding beehive-shaped mausoleum, built c.1835, comprising central cement dome (on circular plan) set within cylindrical pit constructed of rubble limestone walling with ashlar limestone coping over. Houses the remains of Robert Cooke of Cookesborough House. Located within the grounds of St. John the Baptist's Church of Ireland church (15401308) in the countryside to the southwest of Delvin.
An eccentric mausoleum of great character and historical interest. It was built by Adolphus Cooke (1792-1876) of Cookesborough, Co. Westmeath to house the remains of his father, Robert. Adolphus Cooke was a noted and colourful local eccentric and landowner with a strong belief in reincarnation. Reputedly, Adolphus Cooke designed this tomb to look like a beehive, as he believed his father would be reincarnated as a bee. Adolphus himself later had massive fox holes/covert built around his estate of Cookesborough in the belief that he, himself, would be reincarnated as a fox. Adolphus Cooke himself was buried in this grave in 1876 after the rector at Killucan refused to bury him in a marble mausoleum he constructed for himself within the grounds of Cookesborough House. This mausoleum is located within the grounds of St. John the Baptist's Church of Ireland church (15401308) and is an interesting and quirky addition to the architectural heritage of Westmeath.

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Photo: National Inventory of Architectural Heritage · Website use allowed for educational or private purposes with source credit