STANDING FOR HISTORY IN DALKEITH: THE CORN EXCHANGE

In this picture of Dalkeith’s newly refurbished Corn Exchange, I am replicating a fantastic old sketch of the Corn Exchange used as a cover of J. C. Carrick’s book ‘Around Dalkeith and Camp Meg’. Originally opened in 1854, the building is of major historic importance in the town and it is just great to see it looking so beautifully restored. It is even better that part of the building is being devoted to the Dalkeith History Society Museum.

 

I’ve now managed to have a good look at the work that has been done and it is really impressive. In keeping with the use of that original illustration on Carrick's book, the building quite literally stands for history in Dalkeith! It is another feature for Dalkeith to be proud.

 

John Charles Carrick, MA. BD, is one of the famous names who has interested me in the last few years and so I was really pleased to discover that he was one of the very first to respond positively to Andrew Hope’s letters written in May 1895, seeking subscriptions for the Dalkeith Memorial Fountain to Robert Burns. He was also one of the speakers at the Dalkeith Burns Club’s supper at the Cross Keys in 1896 – the centenary year of the Bard’s death.

 

Rev. Carrick was the Minister of Newbattle Church from 1885, having earlier served as Assistant at both Newbattle and St Giles, Edinburgh. Born in Glasgow in 1860, he was educated at both Glasgow and Edinburgh Universities and became a prolific author on theological, historical and literary topics. He also edited the Scots Magazine from 1883-1900. He resigned from Newbattle through ill health in 1912 and moved to Liberton.

 

One hundred and three years ago this month (April 1913), Rev. Carrick was involved in a proposal by Ayr Burns Club to have a bust of Burns in St Giles Cathedral, Edinburgh. Following a suggestion made by Sherriff Guy when proposing the Immortal Memory at the Ayr Club and as an outcome of correspondence between Rev. Carrick, a special meeting of the Club was held on 3 April 1913 at the King’s Arms Hotel, Ayr – Mr J. T. Gouldie, the club president was chair. As with the Dalkeith Burns Monument, it was proposed that subscriptions should be invited from kindred clubs and admirers of the poet with a view to the erection of a suitable bust and that an appeal should be made. Rev Carrick was described to be devoting the proceeds of a new book to the bust fund. The title of the book was ‘Ayr Fort. The Tower of S. John the Baptist at Ayr’.

 

I have yet to find out what happened to the idea of a bust of Burns at St. Giles but I did visit St Giles a few years ago to photograph the magnificent memorial window dedicated to the Bard and have written separately on the Dalkeith Burns Monument page about it.

 

Rev. J. C. Carrick was just 54 years old when he died in March 1914 at Liberton.

 

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IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN DALKEITH'S RICH HISTORY PLEASE COME AND JOIN OUR FACEBOOK PAGE. HERE IS THE LINK

www.facebook.com/groups/398465947021162/

 

 

IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN DALKEITH'S BURNS MONUMENT, HERE IS THE LINK TO THE CAMPAIGN PAGE:

 

www.facebook.com/PoeticJusticeForBurnsInDalkeith/?fref=ts

 

Done