The first is Stirling’s Statues – GC1FY7V
The second is Black Russel – GC1GB4B
The fourth is Robert Burns and Dunblane – GC1GVB2
This series is planned for the “Year of the Homecoming 2009” which centres on the 250th anniversary of Robert Burns’ birth.
Burns paid his first visit to Harvieston on Monday 27th August 1787.
He returned in company with Dr Jim Adair, in October and stayed for 8 days.
From here he visited Castle Campbell, Cauldron Linn and Rumbling Brig. Although the main purpose of this visit was to meet up again with Peggy Chalmers he had not intended to stop for so long but a heavy storm and floods hit Central Scotland.
These days spent in Peggy Chalmers's company were 8 of the happiest days of his life. Burns proposed to her, but she refused him because she was betrothed to Lewis Hay. They remained friends and exchanged letters.
Writing to her from Ellisland on 16th September 1788, and remembering that Harvieston visit, Burns burst out: 'when I think I have met with you and have lived more of real life with you in eight days than I can do with almost anybody I meet with in eight years — when I think on the improbability of meeting you in this world again — I could sit down and cry like a child!'
Peggy Chalmers was undoubtedly one of the only two intellectually able women with whom Burns became friendly (the other was Maria Riddell).
Clackmannan Tower was also of interest to Robert Burns when he visited the widow of the last of the Clackmannan Bruce’s. The widow lived on in the tower until her death in 1791.
She claimed certain royal prerogratives as her own, among them was the right to confer the honour of knighthood. The last person to whom she performed the ceremony, with the great two-handed sword of King Robert The Bruce was Robert Burns on his visit in 1787.
While staying at Harvieston Burns wrote two songs
“ The Banks Of Devon “ and “ Fairest Maid Of Devon Banks
The subject of the latter song was Miss Charlotte Hamilton who later married his friend Mr Adair.
The Banks of the Devon
How pleasant the banks of the clear winding Devon,
With green spreading bushes and flow'rs blooming fair!
But the bonniest flow'r on the banks of the Devon
Was once a sweet bud on the braes of the Ayr.
Mild be the sun on this sweet blushing flower,
In the gay rosy morn, as it bathes in the dew
And gently the fall of the soft vernal shower,
That steals on the evening each leaf to renew!
O spare the dear blossom, ye orient breezes,
With chill hoary wing as ye usher the dawn;
And far be thou distant, thou reptile that seizes
The verdure and pride of the garden or lawn!
Let Bourbon exalt in his gay gilded lilies,
And England triumphant display her proud rose:
A fairer than either adorns the green valleys,
Where Devon, sweet Devon, meandering flows.
TheHarvieston Cairn was erected by TheStirling Clackmannan and West Perthshire Association of Burns Clubs, and unveiled on 26th August 1973. The building work having been executed by Tom Love of Tillicoultry with stone taken from the recently demolished Harvieston Castle and Alex Cook, Honorary President of the Burns Federation, laid the base with the stones gathered from the River Devon. A time capsule is incorporated in the cairn containing among other items a Burns Chronicle of 1973, a Burns Federation badge and a pocket diploma.