Laying of the Memorial/ Foundation Stone at the Burns Tower - 23rd July 1896

Among those who witnessed the ceremony from a large platform erected for the occasion were Lady Alexander of Ballochmyle; Miss Annie B.Burns, and Miss Constance Burns Hutchison, daughter and grand-daughter of Colonel James Glencairn Burns, son of the poet.

The memorial stone was laid with all the honours and according to the ancient rights of Freemasonry by HR Wallace of Busbie and Cloncaird, Provincial Grand Master of Ayrshire. This was perhaps the greatest event that ever occurred in Mauchline. The town was on holiday from early morn, and was literally a mass of bunting, streamers, flags, mottoes, portraits of Burns etc, the householders in competition with each other in decorating their buildings. A procession was formed in the football field on the outskirts of town, at the foot of Loudoun Street. All sorts of mottoes and devices were carried by the various trades, and flags, bunting, emblems etc were almost as numerous as in the town. The procession was monitored by Sergeant Giles of the Ayrshire Yeomanry. Besides the various trades and professions, there were representations from 32 Masonic Lodges, 14 Ancient Free Gardeners Lodges, Volunteers, Boys Brigade, Good Templars etc. It was a mile in length, and took nearly half an hour to pass a given point. Accompanied by various bands, the procession marched up the town, round by the Cowgate, up Kilmarnock Road, down past Mossgiel, and back to the memorial. It was estimated that nearly 10,000 were present.

Text courtesy of an unknown source, via Burns House Museum

MAUCHLINE TOWN AND DISTRICT - JOHN TAYLOR GIBB

Click to see John Taylor Gibb's description from his 1911 book, Mauchline Town & District. Gibb's Book dates as 22nd, the other article has it as 23rd.

BURNS CHRONICLES

Burns Chronicle 1897, Issue 6 - Laying of Foundation Stone at Mauchline Tower (1,352k .pdf)

Burns Chronicle 1899, Issue 8 - Opening of National Burns Memorial, Mauchline (1,566k .pdf)

The opening of Mauchline's National Burns Memorial Tower, 7th May 1898.