QUEEN VICTORIA'S BURIAL PLACE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 11564, 30 January 1901, Page 6

QUEEN VICTORIA'S BURIAL PLACE.

I It has been understood for many years that Queen Victoria's desire was that she should bo buried at Frogmore, beside her beloved husband, Prince Albert. There are many Kings and Queens buried in St. George's Chapel, Windsor, but Queen Victoria will be laid to rest at Frogmore. Frogmore is !?n English Royal palace and mausoleum in the park of Windsor. Early in January in 1862 Professor L. Gvuner and Mr. A. J. Humbert . were honoured with the Queen's commands j to prepare designs for a Royal Mausoleum to jbe erected at Frogmore. One condition was j especially imposed by Her Majesty, viz., i that the central portion of the structure i should be roofed in and substantially completed in the course of tho, year. . Towards the end of January designs were submitted and approved. On March 15 the foundation- ! stone was laid by tho Queen, and the dome over the central octagon was turned about the middle of October. The building was consecrated by the Bishop of Oxford in tho presence of Her Majesty and all the members of the Royal "Family on December 17, and on the following day the mortal remains of His Royal Highness the Prince Consort were removed from Windsor, and placed in a temporary stone sarcophagus in the new edifice. The mausoleum is in the form of a cross; the arms (or limbs) of which are of equal. length, with the addition of a porch on the eastern side. Externally, the breadth is 70ft, and the length 80ft. The extreme height from the general level of the ground to the top of the cross is 83ft, and the height from the floor of the structure to the top of the roof, exclusive of the cross, is 70ft. Internally, there is a central octagon chamber, 30ft in diameter, and 65ft high, roofed with an octagonal dome each arm of the cross is 16ft square. There are connecting corridors or passages at the back of the four main supports of the dome, giving access to each of the arms of the cross, independently of the central portion of the structure. The floor of the building is raised considerably above the ground, and beneath is a vaulted crypt or chamber, to which access is gained by descending a narrow winding staircase in the thickness of tho wall, near the entrance doorway. This crypt was constructed for the purpose of ensuring the dryness of the superstructure, by obtaining a free current of air beneath it. Tho exterior of tho building, to the heigtit of about 10ft or lift, is faced entirely with granite, and above this with Portland stone and granite. The walls are of unusual thickness, and constructed in the most solid manner, a large proportion of the stones weighing from one ton to one ton and a-half, and some as much as from three to four tons. All the external columns are of polished granite. The interior of tho building is faced with coloured marbles and serpentines, combined with frescoes and other decorations. Keeping in mind the deep and incessant interact taken by the Prince in the development of the material productions of this and other countries, there was an anxious dosire on the part of those who had been entrusted with the construction of his tomb to avail themselves to the utmost of all such materials suited to the purpose, as could bo readily procured, more particularly from the British dominions. Thus the woodwork is of Indian teak, the roof? of Australian copper; Wales and Ireland contribute a variety of marbles; Scotland and the Channel Islands supply granite; whilst England is represented by her Portland stone, her granite from Devon and Cornwall, and her Cornish serpentine. Belgium, France, Italy, Greece, and Portugal also furnish marbles to enrich the interior of the edifice. A largo sarcophagus, of dark gray Aberdeen granite, occupies the centre of the structure under the dome. The"sarcophagus rests upon ( a step of polished black marble, with kneel- j ing angels in bronze, at the four angles: mid! upon it is placed a recumbent statue of the Prince Consort in white marble. This work! was executed by Baron Marochetti, who was! honoured with Her Majesty's commands to I prepare and carry into execution the design, j In this double sarcophagus it was intended that the Queen's remains should likewise be deposited by the side of her beloved and f lamented Consort; and a recumbent statue( to correspond with that of tho Prince will be [ placed next to his. | On the upper part of the bronze door \ frame, in the porch, is the following inscrip-[ tion : — , j ALB3RTI PIUNCIPIS QUOD MORTALE ERAT | HOC IN SEPULCEO DEPONI VOLAIT r VIDUA MCEBENB VICTORIA REGINA VALE DESTDEEATISSIME! Hit) DEMUM CONQUIESCAM TECUM ' I TECUM IN CHEISTO CONST AM. I The central portion of the structure forms I a chamber, 30ft in diameter, and 65ft high, \ in which the'stone sarcophagus is placed, j supporting the octagon and dome above.