MEMBERS of Mauchline Burns Club have been busy tidying up Highland Mary’s Monument at Failford.
The monument, which was opened in 1921, stands as a memorial to Mary Campbell – a former lover of Robert Burns.
It is believed that Burns and Highland Mary may have exchanged Bibles over the Water of Coil at Failford.
A spokesperson for Mauchline Burns Club said: “We have taken it upon ourselves to care for Highland Mary’s Monument at Failford. This is part of our project to make the Mauchline area more attractive to tourists and to keep Burns’ memory alive.
“Burns had an affair with Mary while married to Jean Armour. Their brief affair had started in April 1786 and their parting took place on 14 May of that year.
“Burns and Mary Campbell apparently exchanged Bibles over the Water of Coil at Failford and and took some sort of traditional Scottish matrimonial vows. Burns wrote verses in his bible, signed them and impressed his masonic sign.”
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