A rare surviving cast-iron statue of Robert Burns, which was discovered in a compost heap in the 1950s in Durban, South Africa, has made its new home at the Engine Shed, Scotland’s dedicated building conservation centre in Stirling.
The statue had been in Cape Town but was lost and forgotten until it was happily rediscovered under a compost heap in a garden in Durban. The statue remained in South Africa until purchased by Paul and Alexandra Morris in 2013, who organised for the statue to be shipped back to Scotland.
The statue was designed by the eminent sculptor David Watson Stevenson and originally cast at the famous McFarlane’s Foundry in Saracen, Glasgow, prior to the First World War. The Saracen Foundry had a reputation for producing high quality pieces of work, many of which are now considered to be of major historical importance.
After its rediscovery, the statue was carefully transported back to the Morris’s home in Alloway. There, ‘Rusty Rabbie’ was sympathetically restored, including lead testing on flakes of paint to confirm the original colour. It has now been re-painted with colours that reflect the original finish from when it left the McFarlane’s Foundry around 1900.
After enjoying sharing their home with Rabbie and giving talks about his discovery at Burns Clubs and historical societies, Paul and Alexandra Morris decided the time was right for him to move on to a place where he would be fully appreciated and used for educational purposes, kindly donating him to HES. Alexandra commented:
We wanted to find a safe secure home for the statue, and after seeing how beautifully Rabbie was curated at the Engine Shed, we are delighted with our decision.”
The statue will be on display at the Engine Shed as part of the site’s Doors Open Days weekend, where visitors will be able to learn about the innovative iron founders competing to make the best metalwork - from statues like Rabbie to massive decorative cast iron ceilings - and the traditional metalworking techniques they used. Eagle-eyed visitors may even see evidence of sculptor David Stevenson’s skill when crafting the statue of Rabbie Burns.
There is also lots to learn about other traditional skills vital for protecting Scotland’s buildings and monuments at the Engine Shed. Visitors will be able to explore the scientific techniques and labs which help maintain and protect our historic environment, as well as digital resources including a giant 3D printer, Digital Imaging Lab and ‘The Howff’, a cutting-edge immersive hub.
Rachael Dorman, Technical Education and Training Programme Delivery Manager at HES, said:
We are excited to open our doors on 21 and 22 September to give visitors a behind-the-scenes look at how Scotland is at the forefront of conservation and heritage research. From traditional skills and materials to digital and scientific innovation, there is a wealth of information and insights for visitors to enjoy at the Engine Shed.
“We’re particularly pleased to unveil the cast-iron statue of Robert Burns, which is fascinating both for its confounding history and as likely the only surviving example of its kind. We’re grateful to Paul and Alexandra for their generous donation, and the way in which this statue was made can teach us much. We hope this intriguing representation of our national poet will inspire visitors to learn more about the history and legacy of ironwork in Scotland.”
On Saturday 21 and Sunday 22 September, the Engine Shed will be running two sessions each day as part of Doors Open Days. Entry is free however booking is essential as spaces for each session are limited. For more information and to book, please visit engineshed.scot.
About the Engine Shed
The Engine Shed is Historic Environment Scotland (HES)’s dedicated building conservation centre. Based in Stirling, the centre is a hub of digital innovation and heritage science home to specialist labs. Through events and training, the Engine Shed shares technical knowledge to support Scotland’s skills needs and to ensure built heritage can be explored, understood and looked after for future generations.
About Historic Environment Scotland (HES)
- We are the lead body for Scotland’s historic environment, a charity dedicated to the advancement of heritage, culture, education and environmental protection. It is at the forefront of researching and understanding the historic environment and addressing the impacts of climate change on its future, investigating and recording architectural and archaeological sites and landscapes across Scotland and caring for more than 300 properties of national importance. We are also the lead on delivering Scotland's strategy for the historic environment, Our Past, Our Future.
- Historic Scotland, Scran, Canmore, The National Collection of Aerial Photography (NCAP), The Engine Shed, Stirling Castle, and Edinburgh Castle are sub-brands of HES.
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