Built as a tomb and monument to Alexander, 10th Duke of Hamilton, nicknamed ‘El Magnifico’
Guided tours: The first Sunday of the month during February to November, 2pm. Please contact Low Parks Museum on 01698 452 382 to book.
Group visits to the mausoleum out with the normal public tour times can be arranged by appointment.
The building stands to an overall height of about 37m and occupies a site some 200m north of the former Hamilton Palace. The building was begun in 1842 by architect David Hamilton and was completed 5 years after the death of the 10th Duke in 1852 by architects David Bryce and sculptor Alexander Richie in 1858. It is reputed to have the longest echo in Europe at 15 seconds due to its very poor acoustics. The Duke was interred in the mausoleum alongside many of his family.
The building is now the solitary remaining testament to the colossal scale and grandeur of the buildings which once stood in the Hamilton Low Parks. The coffins of the 10th Duke and his ancestors were later re-buried in Hamilton's Bent Cemetery due to the subsidence and flooding that affected the mausoleum.
South Lanarkshire’s Museum Collections
South Lanarkshire's museum collections reflect the many aspects of our culture, identity and history. Over 150,000 objects link the social, industrial and domestic activities of people who lived in, worked in, or were connected with South Lanarkshire. They range from the very ordinary, such as a Victorian chamber pot, to the rather surprising - a 110 year-old plum pudding from the Boer War. There are also some rare and very special items, among them a collection of seven Victoria Crosses.
After local government re-organisation in 1996, the collections of Hamilton, East Kilbride, Clydesdale, Rutherglen and Cambuslang were brought together. We also manage The Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) collection, the only Scottish military collection in local authority ownership.
By caring for and developing the collections on your behalf, we ensure that they continue to be relevant, and are preserved for future generations. Find out more by clicking the link on the right.
