Simon Gillow Reynolds is the great great great nephew of Robert Gillow who commissioned the mausoleum in the grounds of Thurnham Hall in the 1830s.
The mausoleum is unusual in its Eygptian revival style and as such is Grade II* listed.
Unfortunately, it has deteriorated after a tree fell on its roof so over the past three years, Mr Reynolds has tried to find almost £30,000 for its repair.
Such is the building’s importance that its repair has been supported by grants from the Historic Houses Foundation and the Georgian Groups Cleary Fund.
Crosby Granger of Kendal were the architects involved and the building firm, Askins & Little of Penrith, have just completed the work.
Mr Reynolds and one of his sons, Stefan, inspected the repairs during a visit this week.
“Repairing the mausoleum is important because it’s unique and if no-one bothers with restoring it, water would seep in and the place would become unsafe,” said Mr Reynolds whose late brother was Richard Reynolds of Leighton Hall.
Robert Gillow is interred in the mausoleum along with his wife, daughter and son-in-law but as there are still spaces inside, it may become Mr Reynolds final resting place too as the family vault at Yealand Conyers is now full.
The mausoleum has been described as ‘an intriguing piece of architectural heritage’ because it reflects the 19th Century British interest in Egyptian architecture with its recessed Egyptian columns and papyrus decoration.
Around the same time, some Gillow furniture also featured Egyptian motifs and it’s thought that Robert Gillow himself may have had a hand in the design of the mausoleum along with Joseph Bonomi, a sculptor, architect and Egyptologist.
Robert Gillow also partly paid for a chapel, since demolished, in the grounds of Thurnham Hall as it would be the nearest Catholic place of worship to his home in Forton.
As well as being a member of the Gillow family, Mr Reynolds is also descended from the Riddells who married into the Dalton family of Thurnham Hall.
13. Ancient Gillow mausoleum
The repairs on the roof of the Gillow mausoleum can be seen from above. Photo: Kelvin Lister-Stuttard Photo: Kelvin Lister-Stuttard