Visit To Auchinleck

In March 1994 my son and I took a trip to Edinburgh, driving through Ayr and the surrounding countryside, ending up at Auchinleck (A field of flagstones). The mansion was deserted except for a resident caretaker and his family. The building was in great disrepair and boarded up. Much of the stone ornamentation had broken off. The Latin inscription over the front door, which may be paraphrased, “All you seek is here, here in the remoteness and quiet of Auchinleck—if you have fitted yourself with a good steady mind” may still be read. Plans were being formulated to renovate the structure and convert it into a golf club but I understand that this idea fell through and nothing has been done. Lord Auchinleck’s estate was quite respectable. Boswell used to remark that the Laird could ride ten miles on his own land. We visited the old Presbyterian Kirk where the Boswell family vault is located and were shocked to see that Boswell’s casket, an ancient wooden one with cracks and gaps, was resting on a pair of saw horses behind a glass partition. There was a handwritten sign identifying him as “The Great Biographer”. This was taped to the partition. One could get within 4 or 5 feet of

 Boswell's Casket

the casket. Margaret and Lord Auchinleck and the rest of the family were in the vaults below ground and could not be seen. I suspect it was because of the poor condition of the caskets and not due to the dangerous footing, as we were told. Many of the names of the people appearing in his journals were on the headstones in the graveyard. This part of my trip seemed almost macabre – but still very worthwhile. We were invited into the Boswell Museum curator’s home to enjoy a cup of tea (it was terribly cold) and then visited the museum, which was on the cemetery grounds. It is quite small and contains various items of his  memorabilia. A tea service, silverware, the bust of  Boswell that appears below, various first editions of his and Johnson's works. clothing. portraits, and other items were displayed in large cases. I was very much surprised to see that Boswell wore eyeglasses. We joined the Boswell Society and noted that no one had signed the visitor's register during the prior six month period. Auchinleck is really an out of the way destination. l                                                                                                                                                                      

AUCHINLECK HOUSE IN AYRSHIRE

 On February 23, 2002 the Times of London reported that “Auchinleck House has now been restored for holiday renting by the Landmark Trust. Considered one of Scotland’s most important 18^th-century houses, it opened its elegant portals to holidaymakers in December. A self-catering week costs from Pounds 700-Pounds 1,491; the house sleeps 13 people.”

                                                              August 2004 Update

The Boswell Museum

Bust of James Boswell

An Epistle In Verse, Occasioned by the Death of James Boswell, Esquire, of Auchinleck—By Rev. Samuel Martin, Reproduction of First Edition, 1952.

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