Summary
Mausoleum, 1922, architect unknown.
Reasons for Designation
The Melesi Mausoleum in St Pancras and Islington Cemetery, built in 1922, is listed at Grade II for the following principal reasons:
* Historic interest: for the early depiction on a funerary monument of a fatal motor vehicle accident, which resulted in the death of Letizia Melezi in 1914;
* Architectural and artistic interest: it is a striking and highly decorative design, of particular interest for the poignant and distinctive sculptural panels;
* Group value: with the Grade II* Registered cemetery in which it is located.
History
The Melesi mausoleum was erected in 1922 by Gaetano Melesi in memory of his wife, Letizia, who was killed by a taxi in a road accident in London on 11 January 1914, aged 35. The depiction of the road accident on the mausoleum is very unusual and is likely to be among the earliest examples on a funerary monument, despite the first recorded death in Britain of a pedestrian by a petrol-driven motor vehicle occurring in Crystal Palace as early as 1896. Several other memorials relating to motor accidents have been listed including that to Percy Lambert, a racing driver killed at Brooklands racetrack in 1913, whose memorial in Brompton Cemetery bears a carving of a wheel with broken spokes (Listed Grade II, National Heritage List for England entry 1403350), and that in Reading Cemetery to world-record holder Bernard Hieatt (Listed Grade II, NHLE entry 1096058) . He is depicted in motor racing uniform having been killed in 1930, also at Brooklands, within a few laps of victory in a motorcycle and sidecar race.
Details
MATERIALS: Portland stone and marble with a pitched slate roof.
End of official list entry
