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Engraving of Burns Cottage, with green and brown surround. Below the picture are the lines 'Twas then a blast o' janwar win' blew hansel in on Robin'. Below that on a brown background is W. Forest after Sam Bough RSA'. In a wooden frame.
This engraving (proof on India paper) is by William Forrest and taken from an original painting by Sam Bough RSA dated 1877. The scene is in the winter showing the birthplace cottage covered in snow with the caption "twas then a blast o' Januar wind, blew hansel in on Robin".
This is a line from Burns' poem "Rantin Rovin Robin" and relates to the collapse of part of the Cottage wall in a January storm, shortly after the birth of the poet when the family had to take shelter in a nearby cottage while the damage was repaired by his father William Burnes.
A gift of £5 a month can help us ensure collections like the Robert Burns Collection receive ongoing care and are shared with as many people as possible.
