Print entitled 'A Cottage near Alloway in Ayrshire', c 1805

A Cottage near Alloway in Ayrshire, c 1805

Introduction:

Robert Burns was born at Alloway near Ayr on the 25th January 1759, the eldest of seven children of Agnes and William Burnes. His father was a market gardener, who having acquired a small holding of land, had built this cottage with its whitewashed clay walls and thatched roof with his own hands.

Image Rights Holder:

Dumfries & Galloway Museums Service

Ref:

225

Project:

241:Robert Burns - People and Places

Material:

Paper

Dimensions:

Image - length: 110 mm, width: 154 mm

What:

Print entitled 'A Cottage near Alloway in Ayrshire', c 1805

Subject:

This view of the cottage was published only eleven years after the death of Robert Burns. Copper plate engravings were produced in relatively small editions as the engraving plate was soft and only a limited number of engravings could be printed before the image became degraded.

Who:

Robert Burns (1759-1796) (his birthplace)

J Storer and John Grieg (Chapel Street, Pentonville, London) (publisher)

Vernor and Hood (Poultry, London) (publisher)

James Sargant Storer (1771-1853) (artist)

When:

March 1805 (published)

Where:

Dumfries Museum, Dumfries & Galloway

Background:

This view of the cottage was published only eleven years after the death of Robert Burns. Copper plate engravings were produced in relatively small editions as the engraving plate was soft and only a limited number of engravings could be printed before the image became degraded.

Description:

The poet's father sold the cottage in 1781 and it was used as a public house until May 1881. By this time it had become a place of pilgrimage for Burns enthusiasts from around the world. It was purchased for ¶œ4,000 by the Trustees of the Burns Monument and opened to the public.