Burns' Mausoleum

Robert Burns was initially buried in the north east corner of St Michael's Churchyard in Dumfries, but before long his growing army of devoted fans began to feel that his existing grave was insufficient recognition for his genius. A circular was published on 29 November 1813 calling for the public to subscribe to the cost of a mausoleum. 18 local worthies attended a meeting in the George Inn in Dumfries held on 16 December 1813, and the project was launched.

Amongst those who took a leading part in the fund raising campaign was Sir Walter Scott. Money flowed in from all over Great Britain and from as far afield as India and America. By spring 1815 enough funding was in place for the work, based on a design by Thomas Hunt of London, to be put out to tender. The contract was won by a local stonemason, John Milligan, with a tender of £331.8s.6d. The first stone was laid on 5 June 1815, in a less crowded part of the churchyard than where Burns had initially been buried.