When John Bullough died on the 25th February 1891, his son George was a few days short of his 21st birthday. John’s funeral took place in Accrington and his remains were initially interred in the family vault in Christ Church, Accrington. George appears to have decided that his father’s remains should be on Rum and chose for his resting place Harris on the southwest side of the island. A report in the Blackburn Standard of August 8th 1891 tells the story.

Blackburn Standard August 8^th 1891

REMOVAL OF MR JOHN BULLOUGH’S REMAINS

On Sunday night the remains of the late Mr John Bullough were removed from the vault at Christ Church, Accrington, to be conveyed to the Isle of Rum for interment in a specially erected mausoleum. About eleven o’clock at night the gates of Christ Church were placed in the charge of a body of police under Inspector Sinclair. The undertaker, Mr James Waddington, arrived with a staff of about eight men, and the Rev E Greensill, vicar of Christ Church, and the Rev RW Circuitt, vicar of Heywood, were present. The men got to work with the greatest dispatch, and in about twenty minutes the coffin, containing the remains, was brought from the vault to the surface. The coffin was put in a hearse which was in waiting, and was at once taken to the Accrington Railway Station, where an engine and special carriage was drawn up at the platform. In the special carriage was a wooden casket into which the coffin was placed and secured. Shortly after midnight, the Rev RW Circuitt, who performed the burial rites on the Isle of Rum, Mr Waddington and his men proceeded with the body to Blackburn where they caught the one o’clock Scotch express. They arrived at Oban about three o’clock on Monday afternoon, and on the Tuesday the remains were put on a specially chartered steamer and conveyed to the Isle of Rum where they were interred in a handsome mausoleum specially built for the purpose and recently consecrated by the Bishop of Argyle and the Islands. The removal was effected with the greatest secrecy and decorum. Besides those specially engaged in the work, there were only between 20 and 30 persons present.

George Bullough built a mausoleum at Harris to house the body of his father, John, with the intention that it would become the family resting place. The first mausoleum was decorated with mosaics, but, it is said, after a friend likened the tiles to those of a public lavatory, this was dynamited and the current structure including three stone sarcophagi, replaced it.

In 1897 George laid the foundation stone of Kinloch Castle, which was completed in 1901. In 1903 George married Monica Charrington, nee de la Pasture, at Kinloch Castle. They, and their friends, visited regularly up to the outbreak of the First World War. After the war the whole life-style changed and Castle was less used although the family affection for Rum remained and they continued to visit. Sir George died in 1939 and his remains joined those of his father in the mausoleum. The island then passed to Trustees and was sold to the Nature Conservancy in 1957 for £23,000. The Mausoleum was not included in the sale and still remains in the hands of the Bullough Trustees. In 1967 Lady Bullough was also laid to rest there having died at the age of 98. Although their daughter Hermione‘s name is inscribed on Monica’s sarcophagus, her remains were not interred there. The date shown for her birth as 1900 is also incorrect and should be 1906.

The condition of the Mausoleum deteriorated over the years and by 2006 the fabric was in real danger. The picture above, taken in July 2006 by Graham Bullough of KCFA, shows scaffolding in place as contractors started repair work. It is being inspected by Ewan Macdonald and Douglas King, respectively Chairman and then Secretary of KCFA. A report, prepared by the Secretary in August 2006, may be read by following this internal link . The structure is now in much better condition.