THE grieving wife of a recently departed businessman wants to build a £2 million new mausoleum at Highgate Cemetery to provide a permanent resting place for her husband.

Once a must-have graveyard feature for wealthy Victorians, planners have been told it will be the first built at the historic Swain’s Lane site for 100 years.

A planning application must first gain approval from Camden Council because of its prominent location near the entrance to the Grade-I listed West Cemetery. Designs made available for public view show plans for a neo-classical building.

Cemetery chief executive Dr Ian Dungavell said: “The plot was bought by a private client for her husband. He is currently in a temporary resting place. She wants to build a mausoleum for them both.”

He said he had worked with the applicant to make sure the proposals fitted in with the surrounding monuments and buildings, including a listed chapel, an Edwardian war memorial and a Victorian colonnade. 

Dr Dungavell said: “We are not the type of cemetery where people can buy a plot and do what they like. It is a Grade-I listed landscape and is world famous.”

Dr Ian Dungavell

The design will see giant limestone blocks craned into place for the walls, and boasts large, double bronze doors with a cloth motif set into it. Inside panels could feature the names of the people interred, while hand-carved stone garlands ring the walls and an angel overlooks twin stone sarcophagi. It is due to be created by sculptor Alexander Stoddart, who has worked for the Queen, in Italian Carrara marble.

The Friends of Highgate Cemetery Trust board have reviewed the application and given it their blessing. 

Dr Dungavell added: “This is absolutely a 21st-century building, but in the classical tradition. In the eastern cemetery, there are more contemporary-looking designs for graves, such as ones for Bruce Reynolds [the Great Train robber], Patrick Caulfield [the painter] and [punk impresario] Malcolm McLaren. However, we feel designs in the west side must be contextual. It will be part of the same family of monuments we already have.”

The Trust retains responsibility for the upkeep of the cemetery’s listed monument. Dr Dungavell said: “You have to consider who will look after it in 100 years’ time. We are looking into whether an endowment will be left for its upkeep. If not, it can mean the burden falls on the Friends.”

It has led architect Craig Hamilton to incorporate into the new mausoleum’s design roofs that deflect rain water away from the building. 

It also includes space for people to walk in and sit in quiet contemplation.

Dr Dungavell added: “Many mausoleums are not intended for people to go inside. 

“They are more like large stone cupboards. However, this one will have large bronze doors that open and has an area to sit in.” If the designs are given planning permission, work will start in the summer.