The former site of 31 Charles Street

Image: © Lairich Rig Taken: 3 Sep 2018

This is the southwestern side of Greenock's Oak Mall Shopping Centre, an unpromising and out-of-the-way spot, but I noticed a small plaque here. It is visible on the left, at the near edge of the shadow of the trees. According to that plaque, "on this spot stood The House, 31 Charles Street, in which Burns' Highland Mary died on Oct 20th 1786". It also has a small picture of the house. Charles Street itself is long gone. According to Gardner Blair, in the book "Greenock Street Names: Their History and Romance" (c.1907), "the name Charles was that of the ninth [Lord] Cathcart" (Charles Schaw Cathcart, d.1776; I have corrected this from "Earl of Cathcart", a title that did not yet exist when the street was named). After recounting the story of Highland Mary, Blair adds: "The offices of the Greenock Telegraph newspaper are situated in Charles Street, having been in the same locality since 1863. It is worthy of note that this was the first halfpenny evening newspaper published in Great Britain. It was founded by Mr. Erskine Orr and Mr. John Pollock, both Greenock gentlemen." Image can be seen in the right background.

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