Burns’ Greenock Connection

Mary Campbell

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Memorial Restoration

The Monument to Highland Mary was constructed by John Mossman in 1842 and has a Category B listing under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979. Originally located in the churchyard of the Old West Kirk, it transferred to Greenock Cemetery in 1920 along with the remains of Highland Mary, which were reinterred.

Some minor restoration work was undertaken in 1969, 1979 and 1996 but it became clear that major repairs and renovation was becoming urgent. In 2009 a survey was commissioned by Riverside Inverclyde to be carried out by W.A. Fairhurst and Partners and estimates for the original scope of work on the Monument were in excess of £32,000

The restoration project was started in 2010 as a result of this report and this included the monument and surrounding area. The work would comprise the stabilisation of the Monument and excavattion behind the gravestone. This would facilitate the construction of reinforced foundation and concrete buttress. Furthermore, the surrounding area was to be landscaped, a new path created and the engraved flagstones to be re-mounted on angular plinths.

Thanks to generous donations received from Riverside Inverclyde, Inverclyde Council and Arts for Inverclyde, the initial phase of the project was initiated and completed by 2012. The second phase of the restoration took place over the following 2 years and we were advised that, as the stone had cleaned up so well, the final phase of the project did not require additional funding to conclude.

The restoration completed in 2015 and was commemorated by a re-dedication ceremony which can be seen in the video below.

Grow it.

It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more. Or maybe you have a creative project to share with the world. Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.