A plaster cast of Rabbie’s skull, a lock of hair belonging to The Bard’s wife and Burns’ draft of ‘Scots wha hae’ (Bruce’s address to his troops at Bannockburn) are just a few of the fascinating personal items linked to Scotland’s national poet to be uncovered across Edinburgh’s much loved museums and monuments.
With Burns Night 2018 fast approaching, Museums & Galleries Edinburgh offers up a captivating and cost effective way to celebrate the birthday of Scotland’s much loved poet and lyricist with an exploration of stories, highlights and monuments linked to Robert Burns across the city.
The Writers’ Museum holds an outstanding collection of personal objects, published works and manuscripts including; Burns’ writing desk, an umbrella owned by Burns, a lock of hair of Jean Armour, Burn’s wife, the certificate accepting him in to the Royal Company of Archers, 1792, a ceremonial unit acting as the sovereign’s bodyguard in Scotland who competed in an annual archery competition and somewhat more unusually, a plaster cast of Burns’ skull, one of only three ever made.
To mark the Bards’ birthday on Thursday 25th January, The Writers’ Museum will host an informal tribute to Robert Burns with an afternoon of fiddle music and poetry. The event will take place from 2pm – 3.30pm with no need to book in advance.
The Museum of Edinburgh houses a copy of The New Town Plan which offers a timely insight into the Edinburgh Burns knew - as the New Town was being built during his time in the city. The museum is also home to a flat oatcake which was believed to have been made by Jean Armour, Burns’ wife.
The collection also features the stunning Burns Monument, which will be opened up to visitors from 10am to 5pm on Saturday 27th and 12noon to 5pm on Sunday 28th to mark celebrations this month as part of the Burns Unbroke Festival. Overlooking the city on Regent road, the 70-foot high Grecian-style temple was designed by Sir Thomas Hamilton and funded by public subscriptions. The Monument is surrounded by landscaped gardens with laurels, hollies and Ayrshire roses.
Out with the city centre, a bronze statue of Burns by D. W. Stevenson sits on Constitution Street in Leith and was erected by the Leith Burns Club and gifted to The Lord Provost of Leith in 1898.
During his time in Edinburgh, the ‘ploughman poet’ made a significant and lasting impression, one that can still be felt and celebrated today across the Museums & Galleries Edinburgh collections, which are free to enter.
Councillor Donald Wilson, Culture and Communities Convener for the City of Edinburgh Council, said: “The impact of Robert Burns on Edinburgh and Scotland cannot be underestimated. The streets he walked in the city and the people he met were of course a great inspiration in his work, and from our statue of Burns in Leith to the Monument dedicated to his memory at Regent Road, his influence is still felt all over the city.
“We are very fortunate to have a brilliant and unique collection of monuments in Edinburgh and mementoes relating the life and times of the Bard in our Museums & Galleries Collection. In ode to Scotland’s Bard, why not head to the Museum of Edinburgh or Writers’ Museum or, take the rare opportunity to step inside the Burns Monument when it is open to the public on the 27th and 28th January?”
Gillian Findlay, Curatorial and Engagement Manager with Museums & Galleries Edinburgh said: “Burns’ legacy is phenomenal. Not only is he considered a creative genius, Scotland’s national poet and our ‘favourite Scot ever’ according to a recent poll by STV - but around the world his works are justly celebrated for their romanticism, liberalism and the compassion and humour they express about the human condition.
It’s astonishing to think Robert Burns was still only in his twenties when he produced 'Poems Chiefly in the Scottish Dialect' – the collection of works that would take Edinburgh, and then the world - by storm. Almost 250 years later, 2018 is Scottish Government’s Year of Young People and a more inspirational example of youthful creativity and verve than Burns is hard to imagine. All of us at Museums and Galleries Edinburgh are very much looking forward to welcoming a new generation of poetry-lovers to the Writers’ Museum to explore the best of their cultural heritage.”
For full information on Museums & Galleries Edinburgh please visit: www.edinburghmuseums.org.uk
ENDS
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Notes to Editors
Museums & Galleries Edinburgh is a collection of 14 venues and over 200 monuments across Edinburgh. Our vision is to inspire, enthuse and provoke through a shared passion for Edinburgh, Art and History.
In 2016-17, we welcomed more than half a million people to our nine major visitor attractions: the City Art Centre; Lauriston Castle; Museum of Childhood; Museum of Edinburgh; Nelson Monument; People’s Story; Queensferry Museum; Scott Monument and Writers’ Museum.
We house rich and varied collections relating to the historical and cultural life of Scotland’s Capital. Our venues also boast an exciting and vibrant programme of events and exhibitions, offering something for everyone to enjoy.