The 78th Fraser Highlanders

Simon Fraser 11th Lord of Lovat (1667 - 1747) also known as "The Old Fox" is said to be buried in this mausoleum. He along with other Highlanders were defeated at the Battle of Culloden. He was tried and convicted of treason against the Crown. He was the last man beheaded in Britian. He had requested burial at Wardlaw. The government changed its mind after agreeing, and buried him in the floor of the Tower of London instead. Lore said he was in fact buried here at Wardlaw. For 9 days between after execution and burial his body could be viewed for 1 penny. It has been said friends of family members swapped bodies and it is someone else buried in the floor of the chapel. A story goes that he was brought north to Inverness aboard a merchant ship which sailed Beuley Firth to Wardlaw.

The mausoleum, located in Kirkhill 8 miles west of Inverness, is in Wardlaw Graveyard It was built in 1634 as the burial place for the Lovat Frasers on the end of the original parish church. There are 6 coffins in the crypt. His is said to be on the far left.

The roof of the mausoleum was raised and a tower added in 1722 by the then Lord Lovat, the ‘Old Fox’ of the Jacobite Rebellion who was later buried in the crypt. It was used by the Lovats until the early 19th century.

In June 2017, members from the Fort Fraser Garrison paid homage with a pilgrimmage visit to the mausoleum.

The 78th Fraser Highlanders had received a collection of information sheets (accessible from here at our website below) kindly sent by
Mr. Erik Lundberg, Wardlaw Mausoleum Trust.

Visit the Museum's website by clicking on the sign above.

The Mausoleum is wanting to undergo a restoration to complement the one completed in 1998. The project of £100,000 is to replace areas of lime plaster, repaint inside and out and do some roof and gutter repairs. .Plus the Mausoleum wishes to undertake other projects within the restoration scope to improve and update interpretation in the building and on the website plus our social media coverage

The Regiment has donated $500 CDN towards the effort, and you can help! Click on the sign to go to the donation page. Credit cards
are accepted for payment. Note that CCRA ("Revenue Canada") will not accept foriegn tax receipts (if you can, we would be delighted if you could donate!).If you know of friends and family in Scotland who apprecitate Scottish heritage, let them know of this important project. Contributions made within the UK are a tax benifit as the Wardlaw Mausoleum Trust is a registered Scottish Charity (No. SCO21646).

ORDNANCE SURVEY

A Brief History of the Lovat Frasers at Wardlaw Mausoleum by Paul K Lang of Living History Presentations

An overflight by drone of Wardlaw Mausoleum

Pictures taken by Capt. Mike Redmond - Scottish Tour June 2017

		Information sheets kindly provided by: Erik Lundberg, The Wardlaw Mausoleum Trust, Kirkhill, Inverness.

The Old Fox Simon Lord Lovat by Willam Hogarth [pdf]		Wardlaw News Release (examination of the remains of Simon Lovat) [pdf]

Wardlaw Mausoleum Visitor Brochure [pdf]		Wardlaw Mausoleum Tour Notes [pdf]

Coffin Plaques [pdf]		Wardlaw Mausoleum Plaques [pdf]

Fraser of Lovat Family Tree (Anderson Bk 1825) [Excel xlsx]		Old Fox Books Listing [Excel xlsx]