Thompson Mausoleum

Freestanding family vault/mausoleum, erected c. 1870. Vaulted roof and sides (south-west and north-east) covered in vegetation. Raised squared and coursed stone parapet to front (south-east) having cut stone coping over. Coursed squared limestone walls with chamfered cut stone stringcourse over. Central pointed-arch-headed door opening to front elevation (south-east) having chamfered cut stone round and metal door with pierced floral motifs and raised lettering reading ‘Thompson’. Set within the grounds of Drumhome Old Church graveyard (see 40910329) and partially built into side of hill to the south-east side of enclosure. Ruinous church (RMP DG103-002001-) adjacent to the north-east. One of a pair with an

This interesting and well-built family vault/mausoleum was originally erected to commemorate the Thompson family of Ballintra and Drumholm (Bay View, location unknown. It is one of a pair of related structures with the ‘Hamilton’ family vault/mausoleum to the north-west (see 40910327). The Hamilton and Thompson families were related through marriage in 1830. The style and detailing to both these family vault/mausoleums suggests that they were erected at the same time, and probably to designs by the same person/firm. The front elevation is well-built using high quality stone masonry while the pointed-arch doorway gives it a muted Gothic Revival character that is typical of mid nineteenth-century religious architecture. The modest metal doorway has pierced floral decoration that adds some additional decorative interest to this appealing but understated structure. This structures forms part of a collection of sites at Drumhome Old Church graveyard (see 40910329), and is an integral element of the built heritage and social history of the surrounding area.