SMM+S

hoolit · Last edited by hoolit on Mon May 04, 2009 11:23 am; edited 2 times in total

Robert Burns was originally buried in a modest grave in St Michael's Kirkyard, Dumfries, covered by a simple stone slab.
In 1813 a committee was formed and an appeal made to build a more 'fitting' tribute. This grand Grecian style mausoleum was completed in 1817 and Burns' remains were reinterred in a vault inside. Jean Armour and other family members are also interred here.

The statuary group inside was designed by Peter Turnerelli, and depicts 'Coila' representing the district of Kyle where Burns was born, throwing her mantle of inspiration over the poet as he works the plough.

Turnerelli's sculpture was restored in 1936 by English sculptor Joseph Hermon Cawthra.

hoolit · Posted: Mon May 04, 2009 11:20 am Post subject:

Personally I can't help feeling that the original stone slab was in a way a more 'fitting' tribute.