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The Brigs of Ayr and letter fragment

Key details

Archive number
NTS/02/25/BRN/02/176
Alt. number
3.6164.c
On display
No
Creator
Burns, Robert (Author)

Description

The Brigs of Ayr and letter fragment.

This poem celebrates the building of the new bridge, completed in 1788. The poem was written in the autumn of 1786, when work was begun on a new bridge across the River Ayr as the old bridge, which dates from c 1232, was in a dangerous condition. The new bridge was supported by the Dean of Guild John Ballantine.

Ballantine was a merchant and Banker he had encouraged Burns to publish a second edition of his poems in Edinburgh and had offered to lend him money in support. It was Ballantine's campaign for the building of a new bridge over the river Ayr which inspired Burns to write the poem and to inscribe a copy to him.

The poem is a lively conversation between the new and old brig and is influenced by the poet Robert Fergusson's previous work Mutual Complaint of Plainstanes and Causey.

Archive information


Hierarchy

  1. Robert Burns, collection of poems and songs ( )
  2. The Brigs of Ayr and letter fragment

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