BURNS MEMORIAL CAIRN – HARVIESTOUN

In 1973 a cairn was erected on the roadside between Dollar and Tillicoultry using stone from the recently demolished Harviestoun Castle and the River Devon to commemorate Robert Burns’ visit to the area in 1787.

In August 1787 Robert Burns found himself at Stirling and took the opportunity to ride to Harviestoun which was owned by John Tait. When Tait’s wife died, her sister Mrs Hamilton and family, including the attractive Charlotte Hamilton, came to keep house for him.

Burns was a friend of Mrs Hamilton’s step-son, and it was this connection that led Burns to visit Dollar. The beautiful and vivacious young cousin, Peggy Chalmers, whom Burns knew from Ayrshire, also lived at Harviestoun. However, Peggy was not at Harviestoun the day Burns visited. During the afternoon Burns and Charlotte went for a ride around the area, taking in Cauldron Linn and Rumbling Bridge.

Burns returned to Harviestoun in October when he stayed about ten days, and to his delight Peggy was also there. Although he admired the local scenery, it was the two attractive girls who inspired him more. For Charlotte he wrote ’The Banks of the Devon’ and for Peggy several poems, including ’Fairest Maid on Devon Banks’

Burns was consumed with love for Peggy, and immortalised her in ‘Young Peggy Blooms’ and ‘My Peggy’s Charms.’ Later Peggy admitted that Burns had proposed to her, but that she had rejected him. He wrote the song ‘The Banks of the Devon’ that same year which immortalised his visit.

Researched by Janet Carolan; adapted for web-site