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They were to be married in Ayr Auld Kirk later that year and it
is probable that during the summer and autumn before his marriage
James started work on rebuilding an old house on the site, or at
least making it habitable. It is certain that by April of 1753 the
house had been enlarged to make one large tenement of two stories
covering the whole width of the plot with the southmost part projecting
by one room's width on to the street and a close giving access to
the stables and ground at the back of the house. This part had three
rooms upstairs, all with fireplaces, a small apartment and shop
downstairs and was let to tenants. The northmost building he retained
as his dwelling house. It was to be the home of James and Anne,
their children and their grandchildren for the next ninety years
and for more than a century after that was to become famous as the
Tam o'Shanter Inn.
In the year James Shearer built his house Ayr had changed little
since medieval days. In 1747 there were still open wells in the
High Street and the inhabitants of the Townhead sent a petition
to the Council complaining that the only well in their part of the
town was almost ruinous, the ledges loose and partly fallen into
the well. It was uncovered, almost level with the street which rendered
it dangerous at night and was frequently stopped up with rubbish
and dirt thrown into it by boys. The inhabitants "were obliged
often to drink and make use of unwholesome water without knowing
the same, which certainly cannot but be pernicious to their health
through the dead dogs and catts being thrown into it in the night
time." Their petition was successful and by the time James
Shearer's house was built the well was covered and a pump fitted.
Andrew Glass became innkeeper of the Tam O'Shanter Inn in 1857.
He had previously been a tailor and clothier with a shop in High
Street near the Auld Brig and was a member of the Finance Committee
of the Incorporation of Weavers when they purchased the inn in 1850.
Widowed with a small daughter in 1848 he had married his servant
Marion Stewart, a young woman from Kilmory in Bute, in 1851. He
was forty-six when he took over the tenancy from William Thomson
and he and his family remained at the inn for the next twenty one
years, transforming it by clever publicity from an average pub to
a famous landmark revered by Burns lovers all over the world.
"The house where Tam O'Shanter and Souter Johnny held their
meetings" declared a sign high up on the front of the inn.
"The original chairs and caup are in the house," proclaimed
another. And to press home the point, above the door was an enormous
painting depicting Tam on his horse being farewelled at the door
of the inn by Souter Johnny, James Shearer and Anne Goudie, while
above the door of the inn in the painting was displayed a sign saying
"Jas. Shearer, Spirits and Ales." This large painting
was the first of four which have adorned the front of the building
since the 1850's.
In the early 1930's the proprietors considered disposing of the
property and a meeting of Ayr Burns Club was called to discuss the
question of the purchase of the Tam O'Shanter Inn and its ground.
A committee was formed and the matter raised with Ayr Town Council
which promised to contribute a certain sum towards the purchase
price of £4000 if the Club could raise the rest. Ayr Burns
Club decided to issue subscription sheets to all Burns Clubs throughout
the world and to private individuals, as well as raising funds themselves
through concerts, whist drives and private gifts. The sum required
was raised and the Council took over the property in 1944 with the
intention of ensuring that the inn would be used as a Burns memorial.
Messrs Turner were allowed to occupy the premises until alternative
accommodation for their business was found elsewhere. They vacated
the premises in 1954 and after a period for renovations made without
altering the structure of the building and a successful trial period
in the summer of 1956 the Tam O'Shanter Museum was officially opened
on Saturday the 19th of January 1957. Crowds lined the pavements
and after the opening ceremony the official party of about two hundred,
including Members of Parliament, Town Councillors and Officials,
Burns Club delegates and guests retired to the Town Hall for an
evening of speeches, music and Burns songs. |
