Wider World
Netherhall House
Architect: Campbell Douglas, 1875.
Now somewhat modified and subdivided (with some pretty odd windows), Netherhall House was the home of the renowned physicist William Thomson, Lord Kelvin; it stands near the Ayrshire coast in the seaside town of Largs.
After Lord Kelvin's death in December 1907, his coffin set off from the house on the long journey to Westminster Abbey. The Scotsman of 23 December 1907 described the event.
'In the afternoon an invitation was given to the inhabitants to accompany the hearse from the house to the station. The invitation was widely accepted, and a large number of mourners assembled at Netherhall prior to the hour of departure...At seven o'clock the cortege started on its way to the station, about a mile distant. All the shopkeepers in Largs closed their premises during its passage, and the withdrawal of the shop lights added to the melancholy solemnity of the scene as the long line of mourners, headed by the hearse, passed slowly along the hushed streets ... Large crowds witnessed the passing of the cortege, but only those taking part in it were admitted to the station. The coffin was placed in a special Midland and Glasgow and South-Western Railway van, and the train took its departure at 8.30 pm for Kilmarnock. Here the van was attached to the express for St Pancras, which left Glasgow at 8.30 pm and was due to arrive at 7.30 yesterday morning. The coffin was accompanied by a few relatives, and by representatives of Messrs Wylie & Lochhead, Glasgow.'
From St Pancras Station in London the coffin was transferred to a hearse, and transported to Westminster Abbey, where it was placed in St Faith's Chapel 'almost wholly enveloped in its floral mantle' until the funeral followed by the burial just behind the choir screen in front of Isaac Newton's monument.
Netherhall House
Architect: Campbell Douglas, 1875.
Now somewhat modified and subdivided (with some pretty odd windows), Netherhall House was the home of the renowned physicist William Thomson, Lord Kelvin; it stands near the Ayrshire coast in the seaside town of Largs.
After Lord Kelvin's death in December 1907, his coffin set off from the house on the long journey to Westminster Abbey. The Scotsman of 23 December 1907 described the event.
'In the afternoon an invitation was given to the inhabitants to accompany the hearse from the house to the station. The invitation was widely accepted, and a large number of mourners assembled at Netherhall prior to the hour of departure...At seven o'clock the cortege started on its way to the station, about a mile distant. All the shopkeepers in Largs closed their premises during its passage, and the withdrawal of the shop lights added to the melancholy solemnity of the scene as the long line of mourners, headed by the hearse, passed slowly along the hushed streets ... Large crowds witnessed the passing of the cortege, but only those taking part in it were admitted to the station. The coffin was placed in a special Midland and Glasgow and South-Western Railway van, and the train took its departure at 8.30 pm for Kilmarnock. Here the van was attached to the express for St Pancras, which left Glasgow at 8.30 pm and was due to arrive at 7.30 yesterday morning. The coffin was accompanied by a few relatives, and by representatives of Messrs Wylie & Lochhead, Glasgow.'
From St Pancras Station in London the coffin was transferred to a hearse, and transported to Westminster Abbey, where it was placed in St Faith's Chapel 'almost wholly enveloped in its floral mantle' until the funeral followed by the burial just behind the choir screen in front of Isaac Newton's monument.