The Heckling Shop - Irvine

Image: © Raibeart MacAoidh Taken: 5 Dec 2017

About midsummer of 1781 Robert Burns (1759-1796) went to Irvine and remained until the spring of 1782. In his autobiography, has written, "My twenty third year to me was an important era. Partly through whim and partly that I wished to set about doing something in my life, I joined a flax-dresser in a neighbouring town to learn his trade. This was an unlucky affair, and, to finish the whole, as we were giving a welcome carousel to the New Year, the shop took fire, and burnt to ashes; and I was left, like a true poet, not worth a sixpence". In Irvine Burns made friends with a young sailor Richard Brown. "He was" says Burns, "The only man I ever saw who was a greater fool than myself where women was the presiding star". He adds that Brown's friendship encouraged him to become a poet.

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