Globe Close, Dumfries (The Howff of Burns)

Category

Library Item

Item no

17627

Title

Globe Close, Dumfries (The Howff of Burns)

Description

Welcoming light pours out on to a dark street from the windows and doors of the Globe Inn, Globe Street, Dumfries. Several men are gathered round the entranceway. Tall buildings lie behind the public house and in front of it is a ramshackle old building. A woman can be seen making her way down a vennel to the left of the image.

Artist / maker

Bartlett, W. H.

Engraver

J Rogers

Date

1840

Size

20 x 12.5 cm

Type

Engraving

Location

Edinburgh and Scottish Collection

Robert Burns went to live in Dumfries in 1791. The Globe Inn was one of the most popular public houses of the town and Burns soon became a regular customer. Burns wrote several poems about the Globe and its owners including "At the Globe Tavern" and "Lines Written on Windows of the Globe Tavern. Howff is a Scottish word meaning "familiar haunt".

Robert Burns is Scotland's national poet. He was born on the 25th January 1759 in Alloway, Ayrshire. He was the son of a tenant farmer and was brought up working the land, but like many sons of Scottish farmers received a good education. In 1786 he published a volume of his poetry called Poems Chiefly in the Scottish Dialect. The book was an immediate success and was the start of his transformation into a national hero. He continued to write poetry and songs until he died on the 21st July 1796 aged just 37. Every year, on the anniversary of his birth, thousands of Scots at home and abroad gather together to celebrate the poet's life and works by holding Burns Suppers.

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Related subjects

People > Adults > Men

People > Entertainment and sports > Poets

Places > Scotland > Dumfriesshire

Sport and leisure > Eating and drinking facilities > Inns

Sport and leisure > Eating and drinking facilities > Public houses

Transport > Infrastructure > Streets