St Michael’s Kirkyard

Close to Robert Burns House (where visitors may borrow the key to Burns Mausoleum) is St Michael’s Kirkyard. Across the street from the entrance to St Michael’s Kirkyard is a statue to the poet’s wife with one of his children, a reminder that on the day of his funeral Jean gave birth to a son, Maxwell Burns, and was unable to attend the ceremony.

Original Grave of Robert Burns

On 25th July 1796 Burns was laid to rest in a grave near the perimeter of St Michael’s Kirkyard. Both the location and the plain stone grave slab were thought to be out of keeping with such an important figure and in 1813 a movement led by Burns’ close friend John Syme set about raising money for a mausoleum for the poet. One of the subscribers was the Prince Regent, later King George IV. T F Hunt, the London architect, designed the building.

The sculptor, Peter Turnerelli was commissioned to produce a statue of Burns at the plough with his muse, “Coila” throwing her inspiring mantle over him. On 19th September 1815, Burns' body was exhumed and placed in the mausoleum. His wife, Jean Armour Burns joined him there in 1834. She had spent 38 years of widowhood in their last home together; just a few minutes walk away in Burns Street.

On 18th September 1815 Burns’ body was moved to a grand mausoleum. The original grave of the poet was reoccupied 10 years later by Mrs Joseph Elias Perochon, eldest daughter of Burns’ confidante, Mrs Frances Anna Dunlop.

Many of the graves in St Michael’s Kirkyard show a plaque to explain social connections with the poet and his family.