#Nithdale

[scotianostra]

On November 29th 1813 a campaign was launched in Dumfries to raise public subscriptions to fund a mausoleum for the poet Robert Burns.

The first attempt to have a memorial erected to Burns was made as far back as 1812, by John Forbes Mitchell of Bombay, and it is ironic that the first expression of a national, as opposed to a local, nature, should have come from overseas. Although Mitchell eventually collected a large sum of money for this purpose, it was not until he returned to Britain in 1819 that he could take practical steps to implement his proposals. In the meantime, plans for monuments to Burns had been maturing elsewhere.

In 1813, John Syme, who had been a close friend of Burns, campaigned to raise funds for the Mausoleum. The structure was designed by Thomas Frederick Hunt while sculptor Peter Turnerelli created the scene in marble of Burns at the plough contained inside.

On 19th September 1815 the poet`s remains were exhumed and re interred in the mausoleum. The service was attended by his wife Jean Armour, who had been unable to attend the original service as she was giving birth to Burns` son.

It was actually built by a local stonemason named John Milligan at a cost of just over £300. Though the structure was completed in 1817 Burns' body was moved to its new home in 1815 while the mausoleum was being built.Burns' wife Jean Armour was interred beside her husband in 1834. At this time a plaster cast was made of Burns' skull. Also buried in the mausoleum is the couple's son Maxwell Burns, who died in 1799 at just 2 years and 9 months old, and Francis Burns, another son who died in 1803 at 14 years old.

The mausoleum takes the form of a neoclassical rotunda with pairs of Ionic columns supporting an octagonal drum with a dome at the top. Within the mausoleum is a group of sculptures by Peter Turnerelli.

The sculptures show the ancient Muse 'Colla', a representation of the Ayrshire region of Kyle where Burns was born, throwing her mantle over Burns while he ploughs a farm field. The cloak is a mantle of inspiration, a reflection of how Burns' life early life in Ayrshire inspired his poetry. Colla's mantle of inspiration summons Burns the ploughman to become Burns the poet.

The original sculptures were replaced by copies sculpted by Hermon Cawthra in 1936. They were installed as part of an effort to restore the mausoleum and were unveiled by Prime Minister Ramsay MacDonald.

The mausoleum is made of local red sandstone. Around 1880 the structure was painted bright white, with the dome a pale green. The base of the mausoleum is open on three sides, but each of these sides is now protected by an iron gate so that you can see within but cannot actually enter the building.During the 19th century the Dumfries Burns Club began a custom of laying a wreath at the mausoleum on Burns' birthday (25th January) and the custom continues to this day.

The Burns Mausoleum is listed Grade A for its heritage value.

[scotianostra]

On December 7th 1784 Allan Cunningham, the Poet was born.

Cunningham’s father was a neighbour of Robert Burns and as a boy Cunningham attended his funeral, he was born and raised in Dumfiesshire. At a young age Cunningham was apprenticed to a stonemason but spent his free time reading, and writing imitations of old Scottish ballads. In 1807 he contributed to Roche’s Literary Recreations a periodical Monthly responsible for publishing Lord Byrons works.

In 1809 or therabouts he sent some Scottish Ballads he claimed to have collected to be used in Cromek’s “Remains of Nithdale and Galloway Song. Actually they were his own creations.” He came to know the author James Hogg and through him met Sir Walter Scott who suspected that the ballads in Cromek’s were in fact his own. Scott and Hogg would have been the leading authorities on folklore and ballads of Scotland at that time.

In 1813 he published, “Songs, Chiefly in the rural dialect of Scotland.” Thereafter, Cunningham, was persuaded by Cromek to move to London where be became a parliamentary reporter for "The London Magazine” and met the sculptor Sir Francis Chantry, later becoming his assistant and secretary. A position he held from 1814 until Chantry’s death in 1841. During this time, Cunningham continued to pursue literary interests when time permitted, writing three novels, a series of stories (which he contributed to Blackwood’s Magazine,) biographies, as well as many songs.

He married a servant of the house in which he was lodging and had six children, several of whom also became writers. Cunningham wrote many stories and poetic dramas but apart from hi Complete works of Burns it for hie poems and ballads he s best known and remembered.

The Waes o’ Scotland

When I left thee, bonnie Scotland,

Thou wert fair to see,

Fresh as a bonnie bride i’ the morn

When she maun wedded be!

When I came back to thee, Scotland,

Upon a May-morn fair,

A bonnie lass sat at our town-en’,

Kaming her yellow hair.

“O hey! O hey!” sung the bonnie lass,

“O hey! an’ wae ’s me!

There ’s joy to the Whigs, an’ land to the Whigs,

An’ nought but wae to me!

"O hey! O hey!” sung the bonnie lass,

“O hey! an’ wae ’s me!

There ’s siccan sorrow in Scotland,

As een did never see.

"O hey! O hey for my father auld!

O hey! for my mither dear!

An’ my heart will burst for the bonnie lad

Wha left me lanesome here!”

I had na gane in my ain Scotland

Mae miles than twa or three,

When I saw the head o’ my ain father

Coming up the gate to me.

“A traitor’s head!” and “a traitor’s head!”

Loud bawled a bluidy loon;

But I drew frae the sheath my glaive o’ weir,

An’ strak the reaver down.

I hied me hame to my father’s ha’;

Alas and alack anee!

My dear mither lay ‘mang the ashes gray,

And the death-tear in her ee.

“O wha has wrought this bluidy wark?

Had I the reaver here,

I ’d wash his sark in his ain heart’s blude,

And gie ’t to his love to wear!”

I wander a’ night 'mang the lands I own’d,

When a’ folk are asleep,

And lie owre my father and mither’s grave,

An hour or twa to weep!

O fatherless and motherless,

Without a ha’ or hame,

I maun wander through my ain Scotland,

And bide a traitor’s blame.

Allan Cunningham .

[scotianostra]

30th October 1842 saw the death of the poet Allan Cunningham.

Cunningham’s father was a neighbour of Robert Burns and as a boy Cunningham attended the Scottish makars’ funeral, he was born and raised in Dumfiesshire. At a young age Cunningham was apprenticed to a stonemason but spent his free time reading, and writing imitations of old Scottish ballads. In 1807 he contributed to Roche’s Literary Recreations a periodical Monthly responsible for publishing Lord Byrons works.

In 1809 or thereabouts he sent some Scottish Ballads he claimed to have collected to be used in Cromek’s “Remains of Nithdale and Galloway Song. Actually they were his own creations.” He came to know the author James Hogg and through him met Sir Walter Scott who suspected that the ballads in Cromek’s were in fact his own. Scott and Hogg would have been the leading authorities on folklore and ballads of Scotland at that time.

In 1813 he published, “Songs, Chiefly in the rural dialect of Scotland.” Thereafter, Cunningham, was persuaded by Cromek to move to London where be became a parliamentary reporter for "The London Magazine” and met the sculptor Sir Francis Chantry, later becoming his assistant and secretary. A position he held from 1814 until Chantry’s death in 1841. During this time, Cunningham continued to pursue literary interests when time permitted, writing three novels, a series of stories (which he contributed to Blackwood’s Magazine,) biographies, as well as many songs.

He married a servant of the house in which he was lodging and had six children, several of whom also became writers. Cunningham wrote many stories and poetic dramas but apart from his Complete works of Burns it for his poems and ballads he is best known and remembered.

This is one of my favourite poems by Cunningham, it evokes the pain of the exile who wishes to be back home - in this case, as a result of supporting the cause of the Stewart monarchs. 

Hame, Hame, Hame

Hame, hame, hame, O hame fain wad I be–

O hame, hame, hame, to my ain countree!

When the flower is i’ the bud and the leaf is on the tree,

The larks shall sing me hame in my ain countree;

Hame, hame, hame, O hame fain wad I be–

O hame, hame, hame, to my ain countree!

The green leaf o’ loyaltie ’s beginning for to fa’,

The bonnie White Rose it is withering an’ a’;

But I’ll water ’t wi’ the blude of usurping tyrannie,

An’ green it will graw in my ain countree.

O, there ’s nocht now frae ruin my country can save,

But the keys o’ kind heaven, to open the grave;

That a’ the noble martyrs wha died for loyaltie

May rise again an’ fight for their ain countree.

The great now are gane, a’ wha ventured to save,

The new grass is springing on the tap o’ their grave;

But the sun through the mirk blinks blythe in my e'e,

‘I’ll shine on ye yet in your ain countree.’

Hame, hame, hame, O hame fain wad I be–

O hame, hame, hame, to my ain countree!

[scotianostra]

On December 7th 1784 Allan Cunningham, the Poet was born.

Cunningham’s father was a neighbour of Robert Burns and as a boy Cunningham attended his funeral, he was born and raised in Dumfiesshire. At a young age Cunningham was apprenticed to a stonemason but spent his free time reading, and writing imitations of old Scottish ballads. In 1807 he contributed to Roche’s Literary Recreations a periodical Monthly responsible for publishing Lord Byrons works.

In 1809 or therabouts he sent some Scottish Ballads he claimed to have collected to be used in Cromek’s “Remains of Nithdale and Galloway Song. Actually they were his own creations.” He came to know the author James Hogg and through him met Sir Walter Scott who suspected that the ballads in Cromek’s were in fact his own. Scott and Hogg would have been the leading authorities on folklore and ballads of Scotland at that time.

In 1813 he published, “Songs, Chiefly in the rural dialect of Scotland.” Thereafter, Cunningham, was persuaded by Cromek to move to London where be became a parliamentary reporter for "The London Magazine” and met the sculptor Sir Francis Chantry, later becoming his assistant and secretary. A position he held from 1814 until Chantry’s death in 1841. During this time, Cunningham continued to pursue literary interests when time permitted, writing three novels, a series of stories (which he contributed to Blackwood’s Magazine,) biographies, as well as many songs.

He married a servant of the house in which he was lodging and had six children, several of whom also became writers. Cunningham wrote many stories and poetic dramas but apart from hi Complete works of Burns it for hie poems and ballads he s best known and remembered.

The Waes o’ Scotland

When I left thee, bonnie Scotland, Thou wert fair to see, Fresh as a bonnie bride i’ the morn When she maun wedded be!

When I came back to thee, Scotland, Upon a May-morn fair, A bonnie lass sat at our town-en’, Kaming her yellow hair.

“O hey! O hey!” sung the bonnie lass, “O hey! an’ wae ’s me! There ’s joy to the Whigs, an’ land to the Whigs, An’ nought but wae to me!

"O hey! O hey!” sung the bonnie lass, “O hey! an’ wae ’s me! There ’s siccan sorrow in Scotland, As een did never see.

"O hey! O hey for my father auld! O hey! for my mither dear! An’ my heart will burst for the bonnie lad Wha left me lanesome here!”

I had na gane in my ain Scotland Mae miles than twa or three, When I saw the head o’ my ain father Coming up the gate to me.

“A traitor’s head!” and “a traitor’s head!” Loud bawled a bluidy loon; But I drew frae the sheath my glaive o’ weir, An’ strak the reaver down.

I hied me hame to my father’s ha’; Alas and alack anee! My dear mither lay ‘mang the ashes gray, And the death-tear in her ee.

“O wha has wrought this bluidy wark? Had I the reaver here, I ’d wash his sark in his ain heart’s blude, And gie ’t to his love to wear!”

I wander a’ night 'mang the lands I own’d, When a’ folk are asleep, And lie owre my father and mither’s grave, An hour or twa to weep!

O fatherless and motherless, Without a ha’ or hame, I maun wander through my ain Scotland, And bide a traitor’s blame.

Allan Cunningham . 1784-1842

[scotianostra]

30th October 1842 saw the death of the poet Allan Cunningham.

Cunningham’s father was a neighbour of Robert Burns and as a boy Cunningham attended the Scottish makars’ funeral, he was born and raised in Dumfiesshire. At a young age Cunningham was apprenticed to a stonemason but spent his free time reading, and writing imitations of old Scottish ballads. In 1807 he contributed to Roche’s Literary Recreations a periodical Monthly responsible for publishing Lord Byrons works.

In 1809 or therabouts he sent some Scottish Ballads he claimed to have collected to be used in Cromek’s “Remains of Nithdale and Galloway Song. Actually they were his own creations.” He came to know the author James Hogg and through him met Sir Walter Scott who suspected that the ballads in Cromek’s were in fact his own. Scott and Hogg would have been the leading authorities on folklore and ballads of Scotland at that time.

In 1813 he published, “Songs, Chiefly in the rural dialect of Scotland.” Thereafter, Cunningham, was persuaded by Cromek to move to London where be became a parliamentary reporter for "The London Magazine” and met the sculptor Sir Francis Chantry, later becoming his assistant and secretary. A position he held from 1814 until Chantry’s death in 1841. During this time, Cunningham continued to pursue literary interests when time permitted, writing three novels, a series of stories (which he contributed to Blackwood’s Magazine,) biographies, as well as many songs.

He married a servant of the house in which he was lodging and had six children, several of whom also became writers. Cunningham wrote many stories and poetic dramas but apart from his Complete works of Burns it for his poems and ballads he is best known and remembered.

Last Words.

Gane were but the winter cauld, And gane were but the snaw, I could sleep in the wild woods, Where primroses blaw. Cauld's the snaw at my head, And cauld at my feet, And thy finger o' death's at my een Closing them to sleep. Let nane tell my father, Or my mither sae dear:

I'll meet them baith in Heaven, At the spring o' the year.

[scotianostra]

30th October 1842 saw the death of the poet Allan Cunningham.

Cunningham's father was a neighbour of Robert Burns and as a boy Cunningham attended the Scottish makars' funeral, he was born and raised in Dumfiesshire. At a young age Cunningham was apprenticed to a stonemason but spent his free time reading, and writing imitations of old Scottish ballads. In 1807 he contributed to Roche's Literary Recreations a periodical Monthly responsible for publishing Lord Byrons works.

In 1809 or therabouts he sent some Scottish Ballads he claimed to have collected to be used in Cromek's "Remains of Nithdale and Galloway Song. Actually they were his own creations." He came to know the author James Hogg and through him met Sir Walter Scott who suspected that the ballads in Cromek's were in fact his own. Scott and Hogg would have been the leading authorities on folklore and ballads of Scotland at that time.

In 1813 he published, "Songs, Chiefly in the rural dialect of Scotland.” Thereafter, Cunningham, was persuaded by Cromek to move to London where be became a parliamentary reporter for "The London Magazine" and met the sculptor Sir Francis Chantry, later becoming his assistant and secretary. A position he held from 1814 until Chantry's death in 1841. During this time, Cunningham continued to pursue literary interests when time permitted, writing three novels, a series of stories (which he contributed to Blackwood's Magazine,) biographies, as well as many songs.

He married a servant of the house in which he was lodging and had six children, several of whom also became writers. Cunningham wrote many stories and poetic dramas but apart from his Complete works of Burns it for his poems and ballads he is best known and remembered.

This is one of my favourite poems by Cunningham, it evokes the pain of the exile who wishes to be back home - in this case, as a result of supporting the cause of the Stewart monarchs. It of course gives me a second excuse to post a Silly Wizard video.

Hame, Hame, Hame

Hame, hame, hame, O hame fain wad I be--

O hame, hame, hame, to my ain countree!

When the flower is i' the bud and the leaf is on the tree,

The larks shall sing me hame in my ain countree;

Hame, hame, hame, O hame fain wad I be--

O hame, hame, hame, to my ain countree!

The green leaf o' loyaltie 's beginning for to fa',

The bonnie White Rose it is withering an' a';

But I'll water 't wi' the blude of usurping tyrannie,

An' green it will graw in my ain countree.

O, there 's nocht now frae ruin my country can save,

But the keys o' kind heaven, to open the grave;

That a' the noble martyrs wha died for loyaltie

May rise again an' fight for their ain countree.

The great now are gane, a' wha ventured to save,

The new grass is springing on the tap o' their grave;

But the sun through the mirk blinks blythe in my e'e,

'I'll shine on ye yet in your ain countree.'

Hame, hame, hame, O hame fain wad I be--

O hame, hame, hame, to my ain countree!

[scotianostra]

On December 7th 1784 Allan Cunningham, the Poet was born.

Cunningham's father was a neighbour of Robert Burns and as a boy Cunningham attended his funeral, he was born and raised in Dumfiesshire. At a young age Cunningham was apprenticed to a stonemason but spent his free time reading, and writing imitations of old Scottish ballads. In 1807 he contributed to Roche's Literary Recreations a periodical Monthly responsible for publishing Lord Byrons works.

In 1809 or thereabouts he sent some Scottish Ballads he claimed to have collected to be used in Cromek's "Remains of Nithdale and Galloway Song. Actually they were his own creations." He came to know the author James Hogg and through him met Sir Walter Scott who suspected that the ballads in Cromek's were in fact his own. Scott and Hogg would have been the leading authorities on folklore and ballads of Scotland at that time.

In 1813 he published, "Songs, Chiefly in the rural dialect of Scotland.” Thereafter, Cunningham, was persuaded by Cromek to move to London where be became a parliamentary reporter for "The London Magazine" and met the sculptor Sir Francis Chantry, later becoming his assistant and secretary. A position he held from 1814 until Chantry's death in 1841. During this time, Cunningham continued to pursue literary interests when time permitted, writing three novels, a series of stories (which he contributed to Blackwood's Magazine,) biographies, as well as many songs.

He married a servant of the house in which he was lodging and had six children, several of whom also became writers. Cunningham wrote many stories and poetic dramas but apart from hi Complete works of Burns it for hie poems and ballads he s best known and remembered.

Last words.

Gane were but the winter cauld, And gane were but the snaw, I could sleep in the wild woods, Where primroses blaw. Cauld's the snaw at my head, And cauld at my feet, And thy finger o' death's at my een Closing them to sleep. Let nane tell my father, Or my mither sae dear: I'll meet them baith in Heaven, At the spring o' the year.

[scotianostra]

On December 7th 1784 Allan Cunningham, the Poet was born.

Cunningham's father was a neighbour of Robert Burns and as a boy Cunningham attended his funeral, he was born and raised in Dumfiesshire. At a young age Cunningham was apprenticed to a stonemason but spent his free time reading, and writing imitations of old Scottish ballads. In 1807 he contributed to Roche's Literary Recreations a periodical Monthly responsible for publishing Lord Byrons works.

In 1809 or therabouts he sent some Scottish Ballads he claimed to have collected to be used in Cromek's "Remains of Nithdale and Galloway Song. Actually they were his own creations." He came to know the author James Hogg and through him met Sir Walter Scott who suspected that the ballads in Cromek's were in fact his own. Scott and Hogg would have been the leading authorities on folklore and ballads of Scotland at that time.

In 1813 he published, "Songs, Chiefly in the rural dialect of Scotland.” Thereafter, Cunningham, was persuaded by Cromek to move to London where be became a parliamentary reporter for "The London Magazine" and met the sculptor Sir Francis Chantry, later becoming his assistant and secretary. A position he held from 1814 until Chantry's death in 1841. During this time, Cunningham continued to pursue literary interests when time permitted, writing three novels, a series of stories (which he contributed to Blackwood's Magazine,) biographies, as well as many songs.

He married a servant of the house in which he was lodging and had six children, several of whom also became writers. Cunningham wrote many stories and poetic dramas but apart from hi Complete works of Burns it for hie poems and ballads he s best known and remembered.

The Waes o' Scotland

When I left thee, bonnie Scotland, Thou wert fair to see, Fresh as a bonnie bride i' the morn When she maun wedded be!

When I came back to thee, Scotland, Upon a May-morn fair, A bonnie lass sat at our town-en', Kaming her yellow hair.

"O hey! O hey!" sung the bonnie lass, "O hey! an' wae 's me! There 's joy to the Whigs, an' land to the Whigs, An' nought but wae to me!

"O hey! O hey!" sung the bonnie lass, "O hey! an' wae 's me! There 's siccan sorrow in Scotland, As een did never see.

"O hey! O hey for my father auld! O hey! for my mither dear! An' my heart will burst for the bonnie lad Wha left me lanesome here!"

I had na gane in my ain Scotland Mae miles than twa or three, When I saw the head o' my ain father Coming up the gate to me.

"A traitor's head!" and "a traitor's head!" Loud bawled a bluidy loon; But I drew frae the sheath my glaive o' weir, An' strak the reaver down.

I hied me hame to my father's ha'; Alas and alack anee! My dear mither lay 'mang the ashes gray, And the death-tear in her ee.

"O wha has wrought this bluidy wark? Had I the reaver here, I 'd wash his sark in his ain heart's blude, And gie 't to his love to wear!"

I wander a' night 'mang the lands I own'd, When a' folk are asleep, And lie owre my father and mither's grave, An hour or twa to weep!

O fatherless and motherless, Without a ha' or hame, I maun wander through my ain Scotland, And bide a traitor's blame.

Allan Cunningham . 1784-1842