This appeal was launched in 2011.
Work on the restoration of the Buchanan Sisters mausoleum commenced in early 2013 and was completed later that year.
This wonderful mausoleum within the Glasgow Necropolis is the final resting place of the philanthropic Buchanan Sisters (Margaret, Jane and Elizabeth) of Bellfield Estate, Kilmarnock.
They bequeathed their fortune, as per the terms of the Buchanan Bequest, which was a legal document drawn up by the sisters during their lifetime. Upon the death of Elizabeth Buchanan in 1875, their fortune was valued at £86,200 in 1875, which is the current equivalent of almost £9m as of 2025.
They supported many charities and individuals, focussing on the sick and poor. They also left a significant bequest for the building of a hospital in Glasgow, now known as the Royal Infirmary, as well as the Buchanan Retreat in Bearsden.
This mausoleum deteriorated substantially over the last one hundred and fifty years and required £46,000 to restore it to its former glory. The Friends of Glasgow Necropolis raised £20,000 of this figure thanks to concerted fundraising efforts from our tours.
Read their full story here.
