architecture, Ayrshire, eyecatcher, Monument, Tower

National Burns Memorial, Mauchline, Ayrshire.

It is hard to find a town or village in Ayrshire that doesn’t have a monument to Robert Burns, but the little town of Mauchline has the honour of being home to the ‘National Burns Memorial’. Together with five cottage homes for ‘deserving people who have fallen on hard times’, the tower was built in 1896 as a memorial to the poet.

Alexander Nasmyth (1758 – 1840) portrait of Robert Burns, 1787. Oil on canvas. Bequeathed by Colonel William Burns 1872. PG1063. Scottish National Portrait Gallery. Artwork photographed by: Antonia Reeve. Creative Commons.

Burns (1759-1796) rented a farm near Mauchline from 1784 to 1791, and it was during this period that he produced many of his best-loved poems. He married a Mauchline girl, Jean Armour, who was known as ‘the Belle of Mauchline’.

Poosie Nancy’s House, an inn in Mauchline where Burns would drink. Date and artist unknown. William Finlay Watson bequest 1881. National Galleries of Scotland D2620. Creative Commons.

Whilst living at Mossgiel Farm Burns would visit Mauchline and drink at Poosie Nancy’s tavern, which still stands today. Did he also pop into the town’s Syrian Barbers to have his trademark tousled locks attended to?

The competition to design the monument was won by architect William Fraser (1867-1922) and the foundation stone was laid on 23 July 1896. The crowd present was said to be 10,000 strong, and the procession of trades, guilds, clubs and the general public stretched a mile in length.

The ceremony was followed by a celebratory banquet for the V.I.P.s where the menu included ‘Scotch Haggis’ as an entrée and ‘Burns Tart’ as one of the sweet courses. The Flâneuse hasn’t been able to find a recipe to recreate this for a Burns Night supper, although it seems it may have been something like an Ecclefechan Tart which has nuts and fruit in a pastry case.

The tower with the cottages behind.

The tower became a museum housing Burns memorabilia, and visitors could climb to the top to admire the impressive panorama.

The museum is long gone, but for the last 12 or so years the tower has been home to Johnston Art, showing the work of Elaine Johnston, and if you visit when the gallery is open you might be lucky enough to be invited to climb up to the roof to admire the view (and the artworks en route).

One of the Flâneuse’s favourite folly illustrators is Paul Sharp. He produced this view of the tower for the National Benzole Books volume called Monuments, published in 1963.

This post will arrive with readers on Burns Night 2025, so best wishes to all who are celebrating this evening. The Folly Flâneuse and the Uncouth Companion will ‘take a cup of kindness’ and toast you all.

Lochlea single malt whisky. Distilled in Ayrshire, not far from the Burns Memorial Tower.

For lots more on Mauchline and the monument visit the Ayrshire History website.

Thanks for reading. You can get in touch with any thoughts or observations by scrolling down to the comments box at foot of the page.

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12 thoughts on “National Burns Memorial, Mauchline, Ayrshire.”

  1. Dawn Gordon says:

    Thank you so much!
    Loving your work.x

    1. Editor says:

      Hello Dawn and thank you for reading. Enjoy the weekend.

  2. Sally Paque says:

    Happy Burns’ Night! We’ll be celebrating with a dozen local friends, one of whom’s a Scot so we’re sure to have an authentic rendering of something! As always, an interesting & entertaining article (remembering the days when my “uncouth companion” had lovely tousled locks).😂😢

    1. Editor says:

      Hello Sally. Wishing you all a wonderful evening and hopefully some fine verse and good spirits (in both senses!)

  3. Gand says:

    The haggis will be addressed and the tousled locks going nowhere near a barbers, Syrian or otherwise.
    Cheers.

    1. Editor says:

      Your very good health Gand (and your charming companion)

    1. Editor says:

      Good afternoon Gwyn. Well I must apologise – this auspicious day had entirely passed me by! Next year…

  4. Kate says:

    Happy Burns night! Hope you two will enjoy more than just one wee dram! 🍷 🍷

    1. Editor says:

      Thank you Kate. I hope you too enjoy the evening. Your good health! 🥃

  5. Ann Petherick says:

    Thanks Karen. I always enjoy your posts but in this case I have to express my regret that you are promoting the sale of machine-made repoductions, described as ‘artworks’. In York (& everywhere else) we are now overrun by shops calling themselves “galleries” & selling, in effect, photocopies, & all for vastly inflated prices. Can you think of any way in which we can get this point across to the public & protect the interests of genuine artists ?

    More strength to the Flaneuse
    Best wishes

    1. Editor says:

      Hello Ann. The works I saw in the gallery were all originals, and the artist was working on a canvas when I visited. The architecture was of course my main focus, and I was delighted to find the tower in use as a gallery and studio, and a friendly artist inviting visitors to explore.

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