John Knox Monument & Monteith Mausoleum
Glasgow Necropolis
Glasgow.

The John Knox Monument and Monteith Mausoleum now feature strongly in the night time environment behind Glasgow Cathedral in the Glasgow Necropolis.

These images show photographs of the lighting in operation, along with a concept illustration from the original lighting proposals for comparison.

Lighting for both monuments has different interpretations for near and long view. Only the top sections of each monument can be seen from a distance, and these are given emphasis. Softer, more intricate detailing in the lighting and landscaping has been included for viewers close by.

The base of the John Knox Monument has been landscaped, with recessed light fittings set in to natural stone paving lighting the inscriptions on the monument. Floodlights at the base of the column help ground the statue in the Necropolis and avoid the appearance that the statue is floating above the hilltop. Accurate floodlights at the foot of the statue complete the scheme.

The Monteith Mausoleum has basic floodlighting for the top section, and an array of recessed fibre optic light points, set in to natural stone paving surrounding the monument. Lost architectural detail at the doorway of the mausoleum, uncovered during installation of the lighting scheme, has been incorporated in to the new designs.

The fibre optic lighting is animated with an Intriguing flicker, almost as if the light was falling on to the monument through the boughs of a gently swaying tree, or evocative of candle light.

The fibre optic lighting is continued on the street side of the mausoleum within a bespoke railing modelled on the existing perimeter railings of the cemetery.

The infrastructure of the lighting scheme includes additional capacity for further lighting in the Necropolis which may be adopted at a later time. There is over half a kilometre of cable servicing the lighting, all of which is carefully installed in hand dug trenches that avoid sensitive areas within the site.

The entire lighting scheme uses less than 2.5Kw in power.

Project Status: Complete. Part of Glasgow: City of Light, Glasgow City Council lighting strategy.

A second phase of lighting and landscaping in the Necropolis is due to be begun in 2006.

Phase 2 information may be found here.

A setting out drawing for the Monteith Mausoleum, detailing the slabbing and fibre optic arrangements, may be downloaded below.