| Mossgiel Farm | |
|---|---|
 The farmhouse in 2011 | |
  Location in East Ayrshire | |
| Town/City | Mauchline |
| State | East Ayrshire |
| Country | Scotland |
| Coordinates | 55°31′35″N 4°23′38″W / 55.5263°N 4.394°W |
| Produces | Dairy products |
| Status | Open to the public |
Mossgiel Farm (Mossgaville Farm or Mossgavel Farm in Old Scots) is an organic farm in Mauchline, East Ayrshire, Scotland. It was the home of Robert Burns between 1784 and 1788, and was where he composed many of his best-known works,[1] including "To a Mouse, on Turning Her Up in Her Nest with the Plough".[2] At the time, it consisted of 118 acres (48 ha), and Burns and his brother, Gilbert, rented the property from Gavin Hamilton upon the death of their father.[2][3][4]
While living there, Burns became acquainted with a group of girls collectively known as the Belles of Mauchline — one of whom, Jean Armour, was the daughter of a local stonemason. The two developed a relationship, resulting in nine children, three of whom survived infancy. They were married in 1788.[5]
During Burns's time at the farmhouse, it was a single-storey But'n'Ben cottage containing three small rooms. It is a two-storey farmhouse today.[6]
The farmhouse prior to the addition of a second storey
In the late 19th century
References
- ↑ "Mossgiel Family Farm - Organic Farming for a Sustainable Future | Scottish Land & Estates". www.scottishlandandestates.co.uk. Retrieved 2023-03-24.
- 1 2 Matthews, Mimi (2017). The Pug Who Bit Napoleon: Animal Tales of the 18th & 19th Centuries. Pen & Sword Books. ISBN 9781526705020.
- ↑ Burns, Robert (1852). The Life and Works of Robert Burns, Volume 1. Harper & Brothers. p. 85.
- ↑ Love, Dane (2012). The History of Mauchline Village and Parish. Cam Publishing. p. 75. ISBN 978-0-9567550-3-2.
- ↑ "Mauchline kirk session records, National Archives of Scotland". 'The Legacy of Robert Burns' feature on the National Archives of Scotland website. National Archives of Scotland. 1 July 2009. Archived from the original on 8 October 2009. Retrieved 21 July 2009.
- ↑ "Robert Burns Country: The Burns Encyclopedia: Mossgiel". www.robertburns.org. Retrieved 2023-03-24.
