Robert Burns was born on the 25th of January 1759 into a two- roomed, clay-cottage in Alloway, South Ayrshire.
Burns Cottage, as it is now labelled for posterity, was built in 1757 by Robert’s father, William Burness. The simple, two-roomed clay and thatch cottage has been fully restored to become part of Robert Burns Birthplace Museum.
To stand in that hallowed room today, with its wall-bed, frugal furniture and humble hearth is to sense the birth of a literary wind that has blown through the centuries, and will for centuries to come.
Indeed, you might say that humble birth, in the tiny living room with its doorless opening to the adjoining stalls for the working animals, could be likened to the coming of another king.
“Our monarch’s hindmost year but ane, Was five-and-twenty days begun, Twas then a blast o’ Janwar’ win’, Blew hansel in on Robin.
The gossip keekit in his loof, Quo' scho, "Wha lives will see the proof, This waly boy will be nae coof: I think we'll ca' him Robin”
