Charles Spence (bard)

Charles Spence (1779-1869) was a Scottish poet, stone mason and footman.

Spence the Burgh Bard

The Bard of Gowrie; the Poet of the Carse.

Spence was born in the parish of Kinfauns, spent most of his life in Rait and died in Manchester.

Linn-ma-Gray I long to see

Thy heathy heights and broomy lea;

Whaur linnets lilt and leverets play

Around the roar of Linn-Ma-Gray.

Linn-ma-Gray when to the street

Crowds follow crowds, in crowds to meet,

I wend my solitary way,

An' climb the cliffs of Linn-ma-Gray.

Linn-ma-Gray, each mounting spring,

From age to age doth tribute bring,

And rushing onwards to the Tay,

Augment the stream of Linn-ma-Gray.

Linn-ma-Gray round Baron hill,

I've aften gane wi' richt gude will,

An' sat and seen the dashing spray

Lash the dark rocks of Linn-ma-Gray.

Linn-ma-Gray, when in yon ha'

The merry wassailers gather a'

In vain their waeel trained bands essay

The minstrelsy of Linn-ma-Gray.

Another favourite Spence poem was entitled: 'My love's window'.

• 
  _{View of topiary at Fingask, as known by Spence}
• 
  _{Lady Threipland of Fingask Castle, for whose family Spence was both footman and mason}

References

• Robert Chambers, The Threiplands of Fingask, 1880.
• Rev. James M'Turk Strachan, BD, FRSA (Scot), From the Braes of the Carse, Charles Spence's Poems and Songs, 1898.

(Strachan was 48 years minister at Kilspindie & died in 1936).

• Lawrence Melville, The Fair Land of Gowrie, William Culross & Son, Coupar Angus, 1939 (reprinted 1975).