• Home
  • Robert Burns
    • His Life and Work
    • The Kilmarnock Edition
    • The Edinburgh Edition
    • The Geddes Burns
    • The Merry Muses of Caledonia
    • Popular Songs and Poems at "Let it Blaw"
    • The Face of Robert Burns
    • Study Information and Resources
    • His Legacy
  • About the Club
    • Office Bearers & Honorary Appointments
      • Office Bearers & Honorary Members
      • Past Presidents
      • Past Secretaries
      • Past Treasurers
    • Absent Friends - Gone but not Forgotten
    • Founder Members and the Early Years
    • School Competitions
    • Henderson's Inn / "Brows"
    • Club Constitution
    • Contact
  • Supper Records
    • Supper Toast Lists & Programmes
    • Tam o' Shanter
    • Is there for Honest Poverty
    • The Balerno Song
    • Bards
    • Pipers and their Music
    • The Jolly Beggars of 'Let it Blaw'
    • Croupiers
    • Jim Tait's Toast to "The Immortal Memory of Robert Burns" 1981 & 2003
    • Toast to 'Let it Blaw' 2018
    • Supper Photographs
    • Supper Recordings
      • 2011 Supper Recording
      • 2012 Supper Recordings
      • 2013 Supper Recordings
    • The Star o' Robbie Burns
    • Locations of our Annual Suppers
  • Facts, Figures & Trivia
    • Alphabetical List of Club Members and Cronies mentioned on this Website
    • Who were the 23 Gentlemen at our First Supper in 1881
    • Longest Serving Club Members & Office Bearers
    • Proposers of the Toast "The Immortal Memory of Robert Burns"
    • Proposers of the Toast "Let it Blaw; the Balerno Burns Club"
    • Proposers of the Toast "The Lasses"
    • Club Trivia
    • Burns Trivia
    • Club Excursions
  • Links
    • Burns Clubs
    • Pubs and Inns
    • Other Burns Organisations
    • International Links & Websites

Poosie Nansie's Tavern

 Poosie Nansie's Tavern, Mauchline

Within its ancient walls the original kitchen remains unchanged with the 18th century, furniture and crockery still in situ.  It also contains a clock made by 'Clockie' Brown, a well-known Mauchline Clockmaker and friend of Burns. 


Behind the Inn, 'The Jolly Beggars Howff' held a motley crew of beggars, rogues and vagabonds - a scene witnessed by burns and his companions, James Smith and John Richmond.  It was from the happening in this establishment that Burns drew his inspiration for The Jolly Beggars - A Cantata.


Beside Poosie Nansie's is the thoroughfare know as Cowgate, once a Cattle Market enjoying a busy trade.  This was the main road to Cumnock.


On the wall of the shop at the street corner, a plaque marks the place where Burns spent many happy hours in the Whitefoord Arms.  Its legendary host, John Dove, must have witnessed many a meeting of the poet and his contemporaries.  It was the scene of the "Court of Equity" (also known as "The Libel Summons"), written by Burns for private circulation among his friends and later included in the "Merry Muses of Caledonia" collection.


Opposite Poosie Nansie's once stood a row of houses.  Behind them in the Churchyard was the green where the communion tent was erected.  Burns once attended the Holy Fair here after which he wrote one of his best known Satires "The Holy Fair" which hastened the end of the event.

 
Copyright 2015 - The Balerno Burns Club