Burns Monument, Kilmarnock
The Burns Monument in Kay Park, Kilmarnock, Scotland, commemorates the poet Robert Burns (1759–1796). It is located at an elevated position within Kay Park, to the east of Kilmarnock Town Centre. The monument was opened in 1879, and is a category B listed building.[1] In 2004, following years of neglect by the local council, fire destroyed most of the building. What was left of the monument was incorporated into the new Burns Monument Centre which opened in 2009. In 2010 the centre was shortlisted for the Carbuncle Cup award run by Building Design.
History
Kilmarnock has many links with Burns; the first edition of his work was printed here in 1786, by John Wilson, a local printer. Of this first edition only 612 copies were printed, and copies of this rare book are now known as Kilmarnock Editions.
On
In August 1879, the 40 acres (16 ha) Kay Park was opened, with the completed Burns Monument as its focus. The statue was officially unveiled by Colonel
The design of the monument has been described as "an eclectic fusion of
Neglect and new building
Following years of neglect by the local council the monument was badly damaged by arson in November 2004. The two storey museum section, at the rear, and the semi-octagonal two-storey tower collapsed, leaving only the front stairs, porch, part of the ground floor outer walls and two of the main internal walls.
Planning permission was granted in September 2006 for the partial re-instatement of the Burns Monument, with an extension to provide a marriage suite, registration service and archive service.[3] The extension, designed by East Ayrshire Council architects,[4] envelopes the remaining staircase and portico, which houses the statue of Robert Burns, and provides a courtyard setting with the statue of Burns and the remaining section of the original monument as a focal point to the northern elevation of the courtyard. The £5m Burns Monument Centre was eventually opened in May 2009 by then-First Minister Alex Salmond, as Scotland's first purpose-built genealogy centre.[5]
In July 2010, it was announced that the rebuilt Centre was one of six buildings nominated for the annual Carbuncle Cup, given to the "ugliest building in the UK completed in the last 12 months."[6] The Carbuncle Cup is given by Building Design magazine, based on nominations from the public. The nominator of the Burns Monument Centre described it as a "forced, clumpy monstrosity with pointlessly random rooves".[6]
See also
References
- ^ a b c d e Historic Environment Scotland. "Kay Park, Burns Monument and former Museum (Category B Listed Building) (LB35925)". Retrieved 20 March 2019.
- ^ a b Adamson, Archibald R (1875). "The Kilmarnock Burns Monument and Kay Park". Ramble Round Kilmarnock. T. Stevenson.
- ^ "Restoration for Burns Monument". BBC News. 29 September 2006. Retrieved 12 May 2008.
- ^ McGinty, Stephen (24 July 2010). "Wee sleekit cow'rin tim'rous carbuncle". The Scotsman. Retrieved 27 July 2010.
- ^ "Burns Monument Centre". Scottish Government. 16 May 2009. Retrieved 27 July 2010.
- ^ a b Watson, Anna (22 July 2010). "Six in race for Carbuncle Cup". Building Design. Retrieved 27 July 2010.
External links
- Burns Monument Centre official site
- Burns Monument Destroyed by fire, The Barred Bard
- Burns Monument Consultation, showing alternative proposals by East Ayrshire Council for redevelopment of the monument
- Burns Monument Centre, pictures of work in progress from East Ayrshire Council