The Friends of Glasgow Necropolis has started a campaign to restore the Buchanan Sister’s Mausoleum which has deteriorated substantially over the last one hundred and fifty years. Their Mausoleum is dilapidated and neglected but still imposing with the wonderful urns sculptured by the famous Mossman family whose work is seen everywhere in the Glasgow Necropolis.

Margaret, Jane and Elizabeth Buchanan were beautiful, unmarried and rich but spent their fortune, which is the current equivalent of £4m, on improving the lives of the sick and poor especially of the name Buchanan. They supported many charities and individuals and to read their full story check out www.glasgownecropolis.org/profiles/buchanan-sisters on The Friends newly launched website.

Nigel Willis, chair of The Friends of Glasgow Necropolis said ‘The Buchanan Sisters were extremely charitable and generous and their memory deserves to be preserved. We are in the early stages of raising £45,000 through tours and donations and restore the Mausoleum with approval of Historic Scotland’.

The Friends are organising an Open Day 16th April. Just turn up between 12 and 3 and every half an hour there will be an introductory tour of the Glasgow Necropolis. Everyone is welcome but specially those of the name Buchanan. All our volunteer guides will be there to take tours and answer questions and there will be a powerpoint presentation in the Necropolis Gatehouse just beside the Cathedral Precinct Gates.

All donations on the day will go towards the Restoration work. We have a generous anonymous donor which is a good start but it is a large sum to collect from our usual monthly tours.

Hope to see you there.