Learn about Historic Dumfries with Midsteeple Quarter: Dumfries History & Burns Wordsearch
Sunday 24th January, 2021
As part of our Crowdfunder campaign to raise money to go towards the purchase of 109, 111 and 121 High Street, we’ll be sharing Learning Resources online every week to encourage children and young people learn more about the historic market town of Dumfries, write stories from the perspective of a Doonhamer from the past and discover more about the history of the buildings we are currently raising money to purchase.
To celebrate Burns’ Night, our first learning resource is all about Scotland’s National Poet and what his life was like in Dumfries.
Robert Burns chose to make Dumfries his home. He lived and loved, drank, worked and wrote in the town, and he is buried here. His “uncommonly splendid” funeral procession left from the Midsteeple and passed along the town’s central spine, lined in his honour by militia regiments raised to defend the nation from Revolutionary France. It was followed by townsfolk who had rioted for bread just months earlier. This ridge, the High Street, has been the backbone of the town for more than a millennium, surviving centuries of roller coaster history beside the tidal reaches of the river Nith.
“‘...the third town for importance and elegance in Scotland;
your neighbourhood will abound in “Honest men and Bonnie Lassies” – do, come and be happy...’”
Ready to learn more about Dumfries and Robert Burns? Download our Dumfries History and find out more about what life was like for Burns in the Queen of the South, then unscramble the anagrams to find words or phrases from the history of Dumfries.
You can either download the file and print it at home, or download and work off a blank piece of paper at home. Don’t forget to let us know how you got on by sharing with us on social media or by emailing info@midsteeplequarter.org
Once you’ve completed the quiz, have a go at our Midsteeple Quarter Burns word search, and see if you can spot the words associated with Burns’ life in Dumfries!
Good luck!
RECLAIM THE HIGH STREET!
Midsteeple Quarter Crowdfunder now LIVE
Our Crowdfunder to raise money to go towards the purchase of the remaining three High Street buildings within the Midsteeple Quarter is now LIVE! We are urging local people, Midsteeple Quarter followers and local businesses to support us to purchase 109, 111 and 121 High Street. All these buildings, including upper floors have been mostly abandoned and un-used for several years.
Thank you for any support you can give to the project – the future of our town depends on ordinary folk being prepared to make a difference!