TV celeb to help raise funds for Mausoleum
21 February 2012
Paul Murton, presenter of the BBC 1 series ‘Grand Tours of Scotland’ will revisit his childhood town to give a talk of how the programme was made. Paul spent his early days in Cowal and was a pupil at Dunoon Grammar School before studying at the National Film and TV school in London. Paul is now a permanent resident in the National Park and runs Timeline Films based in the Trossachs.
His talk ‘The Making of Grand Tours’ will be held on 31st March in the Burgh Hall, Dunoon with all the proceeds going towards helping the community led Argyll Mausoleum restoration fund.
Paul found the inspiration for the programme when he rediscovered an old family book ‘Black’s Picturesque Guide to Scotland’. The guide was written for early visitors, describing places which at the time were largely unknown. The book followed the wave of tourists coming to explore Scotland after Sir Walter Scott and Queen Victoria made the land which had once seemed forbidding and unwelcoming the place to visit. The BBC series was devised and presented by Paul where he explored various aspects of Scottish tourism.
Tickets for the event are available from Bookpoint in Dunoon and cost £4.
Argyll Mausoleum information
The Mausoleum is located in Kilmun
It is often described as one of the least known but most significant historic buildings in Argyll, possibly even in Scotland.
It has occupied the site since 1790, and remained in use until 1949
The site is the burial place of the Earls and Dukes of Argyll from 1455 or earlier until 1949
Prior to its construction, the Dukes were buried under the floor of the adjacent church floor, and it is probable that they were re-interred there, as it replaced the Dukes' earlier private chapel, which had been built there in 1600
The Mausoleum was last renovated in 1890 by the then Marquis of Lorne, subsequently the 9th Duke, when the amazing cast iron dome was installed. Since then, the condition of the building has deteriorated and there is now a substantial risk to both the building and the unique artefacts it contains unless major renovation work are urgently carried out.
The Mausoleum is currently inaccessible to the public. The renovation plans include not only the restoration of the building and artefacts, but also the creation of visitor facilities opening up of the Mausoleum to visits by the community, schools and tourists. The project also involves archaeological and historical research on the site, which may well date back to the 6th century and have links to both the early Celtic church and to the Viking period.
Argyll Mausoleum Ltd is a company limited by guarantee which has been set up by the Benmore & Kilmun Community Development Trust, with involvement of the Church of Scotland, Argyll & Bute Council, Argyll Estates and Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park. For more information visit http://www.argyllmausoleum.org
