Good Duchess Anne.

Anne Hamilton, the 3rd Duchess of Hamilton was born on the 6th January c. 1631 and died on the 17th October c. 1716.  She was responsible for rebuilding Hamilton Palace and contributing to the re-development of the town of Hamilton in Lanarkshire, Scotland.

The Duchess was born at Whitehall Palace in London. She was the Daughter of the 1st Duke of Hamilton; Sir James Hamilton and his Wife; Lady Margaret (or Mary) Fielding. The Duke was one of King Charles I’s Advisors.  Anne’s Mother Lady Margaret, who was Lady of the Bedchamber to Queen Henrietta-Maria and Queen-Consort of King Charles I died when Anne was only six years old!  So, her Father sent her to Hamilton Palace to be raised by his Mother.  During the Wars of Three Kingdoms, Anne had reached the age of 18 and it was around this time her father Sir James Hamilton (the 1st Duke of Hamilton) was executed c. 1649.  His titles/estates were left to William,  Earl of Lanark who was his younger brother.

William, Earl of Lanark ( 2nd Duke ) died during c. 1657 due to wounds he sustained at the Battle of Worcester.  In his will he stated that his estates should be left to Anne Hamilton and that she should become the Duchess of Hamilton in her own right!  She was also made Marchioness of Clydesdale, Countess of Arran, Lanark and Cambridge and The Lady Aven, Innerdale, Machanside and Polmont.  By age 20 she was one of the most wealthy and powerful women in Scotland.  She even had a distant claim to the throne of Scotland. Titles and property meant nothing during the early years of being a Duchess.  Because many of the estates she inherited were confiscated due to debts that incurred from the war her Father and Uncle died in.  Her male relative “The Earl of Abercorn” had also disputed her inheritance of the Hamilton Title around the same time.

Anne married William Douglas, 1st Earl of Selkirk  (who was Catholic) at Corstorphine Kirk c. 1656.  They successfully cleared her debts and reclaimed the estates and also managed to establish her rights to the title “3rd Duchess of Hamilton”.  King Charles II made Anne’s Husband William Douglas “The Duke of Hamilton”,  for Life. The Duke and Duchess had 13 children together. They also began developing Hamilton Palace which widely became recognised as the most largest private residence in the Western Hemisphere.

The 3rd Duke of Hamilton,  William Douglas died in c. 1694.  Duchess Anne continued to re-develop and improve Hamilton Palace and the Town of Hamilton.  She had a New Grammar School, Hospital (Later “Alms House”), Woolen Factory and Spinning School built.  In later years she became an opponent of the 1707 Act of Union.  In c. 1716  she died aged 85 and was originally buried at Hamilton’s Old Collegiate Church (next to Hamilton Palace at the Low Parks). The reinterment of her remains is not documented! But I have my own theory about this, Please refer to my other history article titled: ” Hamilton’s Holy Grail: The Douglas-Hamilton Bloodline & Possible Graves Site.”.  Anne Hamilton, 3rd Duchess of  Hamilton will  forever be  remembered  as; ” Good Duchess Anne “!

Written by

Hamilton Historian.

Terence (Terry) Murphy.

Ref. Anne Hamilton, Duchess of Hamilton]Wikipedia.

Hamilton Mausoleum.

Hamilton Mausoleum was built as a family chapel and final resting place for the 10th Duke of Hamilton ” Il Magnifico “. It is a grade: A listed building and is situated to the north of the site of the former Hamilton Palace  (Palace Grounds/Low Parks) .Construction began in 1842  by David Hamilton and was completed in 1858 by David Bryce and Alexander Ritchie. The structure stands 120 ft in height and was built using local blonde sandstone blocks that neatly dovetail into each other. The structure is in three parts;

1):  The dome.

2):  The dado level which is plastered and panelled.

and 3):  The vaulted basement where the crypt is located.

The total cost of the building was £130,000 which is the equivalent to many millions of pounds in today’s money value.

The Mausoleum.

The original glass dome remained in situ until July 1971 when it had to be replaced by a perspex dome that was lowered into position by a helicopter. The reason for it’s replacement was due to the damage being caused by the elements (weather) penetrating the old putty seal around the base which had also been pecked away at by birds.

Ceiling Detail.

The entrance to the chapel which sits above the crypt now has oak replacement doors. The original bronze doors were designed by Sir John Steel and cast in the Edinburgh works of John Milne. They are based on the gates of “Ghiberti” at the ” Baptistery of Florence “, they are now housed inside the chapel on either side of the doors when you enter. Each door weighs 1 and a half tonnes.

Hamilton Historian Terence (Terry) Murphy Standing Next To One Of The Original Bronze Doors For The Mausoleum. Now Housed Inside The Chapel.

The floor of the chapel is a decorative marble mosaic and facing the doors is the black plinth which once carried the 10th Duke’s Egyptian Sarcophagus. The chapel is said to produce one of the longest-lasting echoes of any building and is noted for it’s acoustic effect. The echo reverberation lasts approximately 15 seconds.

Hamilton Historian  Terence (Terry) Murphy

Standing In The Middle Of The Chapel, “Plumb Centre!”.

The crypt beneath the chapel is guarded by two very life -like Lion statues. The lion on the south side is wide awake and apparently in it’s prime of life. This is a symbolic representation of life at it’s meridian and the fullness of creation. It reminds us of our blessings on this earth and the “Protection” afforded by our creator.  The lion asleep (in death) is on the west side and symbolizes the sinking of the sun and the approach of darkness in death. Above the entrance to the crypt are three stone face sculptures; Life, Death and Immortality. The 10th Duke and his predecessors were re-interred at Hamilton’s Bent Cemetery on October 13 1921 because at the time there was subsidence problems with the Mausoleum due to under mining for coal by the Hamilton Palace Colliery.

Entrance To The Crypt.

Hamilton Historian  Terence (Terry) Murphy  Standing Just Inside The Entrance To The Mausoleum Crypt.

Hamilton Historian  Terence (Terry) Murphy  With The Sleeping Lion.

The 10th Duke’s Egyptian Sarcophagus And Plinth.

 

Written by

Hamilton Historian

Terence (Terry)  Murphy.

ref. Hamilton Mausoleum, Wikipedia.