Beehive mausoleum in County Westmeath

During Autumn 2016 work was undertaken to this fine structure with funding from Structures at Risk Fund, Built Heritage Investment Scheme and with a contribution from the Parish and the Follies Trust. The outer stones were removed, numbered and the brick core revealed, vegetation was cleared and the outer stones cleaned, repaired where necessary, and then replaced in a bedding of lime mortar. All the original stones were reused except five which were too badly damaged. The five replacements were set in lime mortar by the stone masons. The completed project and carefully conserved mausoleum reflects great credit on the architect, Richard McLouglin and the stone masons.
The Follies Trust would like to congratulate all concerned and the Select Vestry for undertaking this scheme.

There is a nice story attached to this mausoleum in that it was built by Adolphus Cooke in about 1835 to house the remains of his father Robert. Both father and son believed in reincarnation and Robert Cooke believed he would be reincarnated as a bee…..hence the beehive mausoleum!
Not only that but Adolphus believed he would be reincarnated as a fox and constructed an underground mausoleum in the form of a fox’s lair near his house where he planned to be buried. However that was not accepted by the church authorities as it was not consecrated ground so he was then interred in his Father’s beehive mausoleum!

Mausoleum pre start of work: 

Cooke mausoleum in 2017:

A celebration event on 6th July 2018 on completion of the project:

If you would like to find some more information about Adolphus Cooke please see a short piece here by Evelyn Mullally.