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Brigs of Ayr', 'The
In the autumn of 1786 a new bridge over the Ayr was begun, the old one, which possibly dates from about 1232, being regarded as dangerous. While the work was in progress, under the direction of the mason Alexander Steven and Dean of Guild John Ballantine, Burns's friend and patron, Burns wrote his poem 'the Brigs of Ayr', a dialogue between the two bridges modelled on Robert Fergusson's 'Mutual Complaint of Plainstanes and Causey'. Burns's poem first appeared in the Edinburgh Edition of 1787, Robert Adam designed a new bridge, and was paid for the design by the Town Council. His plans were not used. A local tradition says that the design as well as the work was by Alexander Steven. In the course of the 'flyting', the Auld Brig prophesies to the 'New: "Ill be a brig when you're a shapeless cairn". And in 1877, the New Brig collapsed, the arch at the south end having been damaged by floods. It was replaced by the present structure. In 1910, the Auld Brig was extensively restored.
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