Old Photograph Thatcher Tam O' Shanter Inn Scotland

Old photograph of a thatcher on the roof of the Tam O' Shanter Inn, Ayr, Ayrshire, Scotland. This Inn is celebrated as the place where Robert Burns famous fictional hero Tam o’ Shanter and his drouthy cronies met prior to Tam’s famous ride from the witches. The poem describes Tam’s homeward journey, after a long evening at the Inn, and the terrible visions he witnesses. Riding his grey mare, Meg, Tam comes across a coven of witches, warlocks and the Devil himself at the ruined church of Kirk Alloway. Knowing that witches can’t cross water, he heads for the Brig o’ Doon. Unfortunately, though Tam does escape, one of the witches grabs Meg’s tail and pulls it off, and Burns ends his tale with this warning for drinkers

Whene’er to Drink you are inclin’d,
Or Cutty-sarks rin in your mind,
Think ye may buy the joys o’er dear;
Remember Tam o’ Shanter’s mare.



All photographs are copyright of Sandy Stevenson, Tour Scotland, and may not be used without permission.

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