Banks of the Devon

To Thread - Forum Home

The Mudcat Café ^TM
https://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=51725
4 messages

Banks of the Devon

22 Sep 02 - 08:12 PM (#789237)
Subject: Banks of the Devon
From: Thomas the Rhymer

In this song by Robert Burns, the Devon is referred to with such heartfulness, yet I know nothing of this river. Can anyone fill me in on the where-abouts of it? Also, is it still beautiful? I sing this song frequently now, (it is the melody that got me good...) and it would help immensely to know something of it. ttr

Tune: Bhanarach Dhon a' cupuidh

22 Sep 02 - 09:59 PM (#789287)
Subject: RE: Banks of the Devon
From: masato sakurai

From Rober Burns Country.

The Banks Of The Devon by Robert Burns.

Devon, River:

"The Devon rises in the Ochil Hills, and takes a rugged course to join the River Forth at Alloa. The Falls of Devon, near Crook of Devon, form a famous beauty spot. It was a result of Burns's visit to Harvieston, Clackmannanshire, near the Devon, in 1787, that he wrote the song 'The Banks of Devon', inspired by Charlotte Hamilton (See Hamilton, Charlotte), who also inspired his last song of all, 'Fairest Maid on Devon Banks' written a few days before his death."

~Masato

23 Sep 02 - 10:52 AM (#789583)
Subject: RE: Banks of the Devon
From: Thomas the Rhymer

I wonder if this would be the same Miss Hamilton as one of the songs I.ve been playing. I wonder if anyone has been there and can tell me how it is now?

23 Sep 02 - 07:54 PM (#789913)
Subject: RE: Banks of the Devon
From: masato sakurai

"The Devon, a river of small size, but of surpassing beauty, has its source among these hills, in the parish of Blackford, Perth-shire. This river, according to the industrious Chalmers, was formerly called Dovan, and is so written in a charter granted by Robert III to the burgh of Inverkeithing. The Devon flows at first, almost due east from its source towards Glendevon, lying in the centre of the Ochils. At the village called Crook of Devon, and near the church of Fossaway, it makes a sudden turn westward, and, passing through the parishes of Muckhart, Dollar, and Tillicoultry, gently glides along the southern boundary of Alva parish. The romantic waterfalls and exquisite scenery of this little river, have long been attractions to the lovers of nature. The most interesting part is its wonderful passage through arching rocks, where the hoarse music of waters has acquired for this lusus naturae, the epithet of Riumbling Bridge; or where, a little further on, amid a series of cascades, we find the water producing the curious excavation of that never empty boiler, the Cauldron Linn. Nor can the passing traveller fail to admire also the wanderings of this stream, after it descends into the valley east of Dollar, whence, gliding in a serpentine course, and in a deep bed with little fall, it proceeds towards the Forth. It is singular that the Devon, after having performed a circuitous route of about thirty miles, should finish its course, nearly opposite the point at which it first arose, reaching the Forth exactly where the latter assumes the character of a frith, two miles above Alloa." (From HERE)