Charles Spence (1779-1869) was a Scottish poet, stonemason and footman.
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- 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.
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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, [Up the heights of Baron Hill,]
I've aften gane wi' richt gude will, [I've led my Jean with right good will.]
An' sat and seen the dashing spray [And sat, and seen the foamy spray]
Lash the dark rocks of Linn-ma-Gray. [Lash the dark rocks of Linne Magray.]
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
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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).
- P. R. Drummond, FSA, [Peter Robert Drummond (1802-1879)] Perthshire in bygone days: one hundred biographical essays, W. B. Whittingham & Son, London, 1879. (Charles Spence, is described on pages 293-309)