£250,000 needed to preserve Hume tomb

Published on Friday 13 June 2008 10:49

A MAJOR fundraising drive has been mounted to restore a historic Edinburgh monument.

The Hume Enlightenment Trust is trying to raise 250,000 to repair and restore David Hume's mausoleum at the Old Calton Burial Ground.

It says urgent work is needed on the 230-year-old monument because there is no-one to officially maintain it.

Built in 1778 by one of Scotland's most famous architects Robert Adam, the monument has lain untouched for centuries.

But the charity said a revamped mausoleum could become a major tourist attraction and reinforce Hume's influence on the Enlightenment era.

The organisation's administrator, Rachel Lee, said: "Hume's Mausoleum is of enormous importance to free thinkers throughout the world, both as a symbol of Enlightenment values and a memorial to one of its greatest figures.

"The aim of this project is to ensure this remarkable structure is preserved for future generations. Both David Hume and Robert Adam are huge names and deserve to be remembered.

"No-one has really had the remit of looking after this, so it's been left to the elements.

"We want to promote this campaign as widely as possible and raise the money to carry out the first part of the work." Mr Adam built the monument two years after Hume's death, and the trust said such iconic structures were crucial to the preservation of the era and how it can still applied in today's world.

"It was a fitting tribute by Scotland's greatest architect to not only Scotland's greatest philosopher, but arguably the greatest philosopher ever to write in English," Ms Lee added.

The monument was created using the extremely durable Craigleith stone, but over the centuries the effects of weather have had a detrimental impact.

Rainfall has caused the worst damage, and some experts who have examined the structure said the need for repair was urgent.

The upper masonry of the structure needs to be re-layed, as does the layer which supports the cornice.

City architect Simpson and Brown is already said to have agreed to carry out the work once enough cash has been raised.

City centre councillor Charles Dundas said it was crucial that buildings such as the mausoleum were brought up to scratch.

He said: "I would like to see every monument across the city centre brought up to the best standard possible and I would support outside bids coming in and giving a shot of investment. David Hume is a personal hero of mine."

THE FACTS

David Hume is regarded throughout the world as a key figure of the Enlightenment period.

The Edinburgh-born philosopher, who died in 1776, made telling and lasting contributions to many aspects of life which last up until this day.

He was an influential thinker in politics, history, religion, literary and aesthetic theory and numerous other genres.

Economist and contemporary Adam Smith said of Hume, who was born in 1711: "Upon the whole, I have always considered him, both in his lifetime and since his death, as approaching as nearly to the idea of a perfectly wise and virtuous man, as perhaps the nature of human frailty will permit."

&#149 www.humeenlightenmenttrust.org.uk