CASTLE DOUGLAS Community Council are hoping a new booklet providing information about an historic town landmark can be published next summer.

The Kelton Mausoleum houses 24 members of the Douglas family including the body of Sir William Douglas, the founder of the town, who died nearly 200 years ago.

But local councillors believe a lot more can be done to highlight what could prove to be a tourist attraction.

Town resident Leslie Scarborough has spent his own time and money researching the Douglas family tree in order to find the mausoleum’s owners.

But the pensioner has been unable to pin down someone who will take responsibility for the building.

Until owners are found, no funding applications can be made to agencies like Historic Scotland which will assist continued maintenance and repairs.

Mr Scarborough recommended that Castle Douglas Community Council should take ownership and set-up a ‘Friends of the Mausoleum’ group in order to attract cash grants.

He also highlighted a lack of interest in the site - and believes it could become the town’s greatest asset.

Current rules mean the Land Registry won’t recognise the community council as owners for at least ten years.

The situation was discussed at a community council meeting at the town hall last week.

And chair Fiona MacGregor reckons a step forward would be letting people know exactly what the building represents.

“I think we need a board with some information up there so visitors and walkers are told what it is,” she said.

“I also think we could help by publishing a leaflet or booklet and making it available at the local tourist information centre.

“We could have something like that ready by the summer.”

Community Councillor Mary Lamont told the meeting that Castle Douglas Rotary Club have indicated a willingness to donate towards minor expenses.

“A lot of people enjoy walking around that area,” she said. “But there needs to be more information about the family published. There would be a lot of interest.

“At the moment the mausoleum can’t get funding from anywhere because no-one owns it.”

Castle Douglas and Glenkens councillor Peter Duncan reckons the information booklet would be a real step forward.

He said: “These are all steps in the right direction.

“And it appears that everybody wants to play their part in preserving this building for the future.

“At some point we will have to sit down and find a way of resolving the issue over ownership.

“A decade is a long time for ownership to be awarded to an organisation.

“But we don’t want a situation where in ten years we are saying ‘we wish we had done something ten years ago.’”

Architect unknown. Built circa 1820 for James Douglas (brother of Sir William Douglas of Gelston and Castle Douglas) by his son William Douglas of Orchardton. Trotter in his East Galloway Skethes claims it to be the work of William Douglas of Orchardton working in collaboration with William Hugh Williams a noteable landscape artist of the time. More likely perhaps is that it is the work of Dumfries architect, Walter Newall, as his sketch books contain designs for mausolea in a similar style. Unique Egypto-Doric style pyramidal mausoleum on raised stepped dais with cubical burial vault below ground. Finely jointed cream sandstone polished ashlar, crisp detailing. Ramped doorways to each face, simply architraved with blocked supported by pair of fluted Doric columns flanking ramped architraved doorpiece.

Above the door a coat of arms, presumably the Douglasses of Castle Douglas. All doors ramped with studded panels.

Delicately carved triglyph and metope frieze, deeply overhanging cornice with anthemion motifs to underside of angles. From this cornice rises another deeply projecting cornice to give double pagoda roofline, upper cornice with scalloped edge, square stone finial to top. Burial vault reached by steep narrow straight stair laid in naval style with steps alternatively square and triangular. Marble plaques over tombs.

Coped pair of ashlar gatepiers with elaborate and decorative early 19th century cast-and wrought iron and railings.

Spearhead cast-iron railings surround tomb.

Note: William Douglas of Orchardton, who was an MP, was better known as William of Almorness. He travelled around Europe with Hugh Williams.