The Mausoleum

The mausoleum is situated on a hill on parkland in the grounds of Castle Howard.

It was the 3^rd Earl of Carlisle who in 1720 announced that he wanted to build a funeral monument for himself and his family. He consulted John Vanbrugh (who was instrumental with the designing and building of the main house) and discussed what he wanted but sadly Vanbrugh died in 1726. The Earl then turned to Nicholas Hawksmoor (also involved with the design and building of Castle Howard) to design and build a mausoleum. The design was for a cylindrical Structure sitting on a square plinth.  Work began in 1729 and took just over twelve years to build. During the initial build stages the building was modified by several gentlemen architects including the 4^th Earl, his brother in law Sir Thomas Robinson and Lord Burlington.

Pressure of work in London and ill health prevented Hawksmoor from visiting and monitoring the progress of the build. Sadly Hawksmoor died in 1736, by which time the building had reached the height of the main windows. The clerk of works was William Etty and the carving inside was carried out by Charles Mitley. The balustrade steps and outer bastion wall was added by Daniel Garratt between 1737 and 1742. Needless to say the 3^rd Earl died two years later and was temporarily buried in St Martin’s Church, in the village of Bulmer just three miles away. He was eventually interred in in the mausoleum in 1741.

Beneath the chapel lies the crypt, which contains 63 catacombs for receiving coffins.