The owner of the Kilmaurs estates, James, 14th Earl of Glencairn was a patron of Robert Burns, and his generosity earned the Ayrshire Poet's undying gratitude.

In 1786, Glencairn arranged for all the members of the Caledonian Hunt to buy a copy of Burns' Poems at the price of one guinea (21 shillings). Since the publisher's price was only six shillings, and much of the Scottish gentry joined in the scheme, the previously-impoverished poet was suddenly richer to the tune of some £500 - a massive amount of money at the time.

Burns never forgot the Earl's generosity, and wrote Lament for James, Earl of Glencairn on the occasion of his patron's death a few years later in 1791.

Here's the tribute in full:

Lament For James, Earl Of Glencairn

The wind blew hollow frae the hills;

By fits the sun's departing beam

Look'd on the fading yellow woods,

That wav'd o'er Lugar's winding stream.

Beneath a craigy steep a Bard,

Laden with years and meikle pain,

In loud lament bewail'd his lord,

Whom Death had all untimely taen.

He lean'd him to an ancient aik,

Whose trunk was mould'ring down with years;

His locks were bleached white with time,

His hoary cheek was wet wi' tears;

And as he touch'd his trembling harp,

And as he tun'd his doleful sang,

The winds lamenting thro' their caves,

To echo bore the notes alang : -

'Ye scatter'd birds that faintly sing,

The reliques of the vernal quire!

Ye woods that shed on a' the winds

The honours of the aged year!

A few short months, and, glad and gay,

Again ye'll charm the ear and e'e;

But nocht in all revolving time

Can gladness bring again to me.

'I am a bending aged tree,

That long has stood the wind and rain;

But now has come a cruel blast

And my last hold of earth is gane;

Nae leaf o' mine shall greet the spring,

Nae simmer sun exalt my bloom;

But I maun lie before the storm,

And ither plant them in my room.

'I've seen sae monie changefu' years,

On earth I am a stranger grown:

I wander in the ways of men,

Alike unknowing and unknown:

Unheard, unpitied, unreliev'd,

I bear alane my lade o' care;

For silent, low, on beds of dust,

Lie a' that would my sorrows share.

'And last (the sum of a' my griefs!)

My noble master lies in clay;

The flow'r amang our barons bold,

His country's pride, his country's stay:

In weary being now I pine,

For a' the life of life is dead,

And hope has left my aged ken,

On forward wing for ever fled.

'Awake thy last sad voice, my harp!

The voice of woe and wild despair!

Awake, resound thy latest lay,

Then sleep in silence evermair!

And thou, my last, best, only friend,

That fillest an untimely tomb,

Accept this tribute from the Bard

Thou brought from Fortune's mirkest gloom.

'In Poverty's low barren vale,

Thick mists obscure involv'd me round;

Though oft I turn'd the wistful eye,

Nae ray of fame was to be found;

Thou found'st me, like the morning sun

That melts the fogs in limpid air:

The friendless Bard and rustic song

Became alike thy fostering care.

'O, why has Worth so short a date,

While villains ripen grey with time!

Must thou, the noble, gen'rous, great,

Fall in bold manhood's hardy prime?

Why did I live to see the day,

A day to me so full of woe?

O, had I met the mortal shaft

Which laid my benefactor low!

'The bridegroom may forget the bride

Was made his wedded wife yestreen;

The monarch may forget the crown

That on his head an hour has been;

The mother may forget the child

That smiles sae sweetly on her knee;

But I'll remember thee, Glencairn,

And a' that thou hast done for me!'

Now it's your turn!

Why not add your own article about an aspect of Kilmaurs history? And more recent memories, too - there must be some great old pictures and even video out there. Remember, history doesn't need to be in black and white! It's good to bring back memories of just a few years ago, too.

Post it all here, and let's see if we can really chronicle Kilmaurs' past in a way we can all share!