Old Photograph Church Hill Dalmellington Scotland

Old photograph of cottages and houses on Church Hill in Dalmellington, Ayrshire, Scotland. The town has a history as a rest area, market town, weaving centre and mining village. Robert Hetrick, born 1769, in Dalmelllington, he was the son of William Hetrick, a blacksmith. His mother’s name is unknown. He succeeded his father as the village blacksmith and inherited a small collection of books which spurred him to write his own poetry and songs, published anonymously in local newspapers. He was known as “the Dalmellington poet ” and called upon to recite his verses at local gatherings. He was also known for his patriotic verses written against Napoleo. His book, published in 1826, which includes both poems and songs, has fourteen pages of subscribers’ names grouped by parish. It is not known whether he married; he is recorded in the 1841 census as boarding in a household without other family members He died in 1849


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