Burns Cottage Museum 27/11/2002

Our monarch's hindmost year but ane
Was five and twenty days began
Twas hen a blast o Janwar win
Blew hansel in on Robin

The story of Burns Cottage Museum has its origins in 25th January 1759, when the poet, Robert Burns, was born in Alloway, Ayr, in a humble cottage. The cottage, was built in 1757 by the hands of Burns' father, William Burnes, a Kincardineshire man, who had headed West from service in Edinburgh to make a living sufficient enough to raise a family. Although he worked hard to give his young son an education, along with a strong sense of the values of honest Scots rural life, William could little have realised on the wild January night of Burns' birth that his son would become one of the World's most dearly loved poets and a symbol of the regeneration of a nation.

In the 1750's, Scotland was still recovering from a century of civil and religious strife, economic ruin and the 1707 Act of Union. By the time of Burns' death in 1796, the country had reinvigorated itself and rediscovered pride in its history, language and culture. Burns stood at the heart of this renewal vigour, travelling the length and breadth of the country, collecting the songs and music of its people and immortalising their language in a phenomenal output of poetry, producing over 600 poems and songs in a period of just 23 years. Following his death in Dumfries in 1796, Scotland was quick to pay tribute to his memory, and the village of Alloway played an important part in particular in building a lasting testament to its most famous son.

The world's first ever Burns supper took place on 21st July, 1801, when a small group of friends gathered in the cottage to share a meal and raise a glass to the poet's memory. This simple celebration was the forerunner of the Burns Night celebrations held in almost every country in the world, near to 25th January each year. A more lasting tribute was planned in Alloway in 1814, when local people began to raise a subscription for a suitable monument. In 1820, the foundation stone for the monument was laid by Sir Alexander Boswell (son of Ayrshire's other giant of 18th Century literature, James Boswell) and the finished monument opened to the public in 1823. The Trustees of the Burns Monument proceeded, for almost two centuries, to promote their stewardship of Burn's memory in Alloway by adding to the heritage they preserve for the continued public appreciation of Scotland's National Poet. Following addition of a statue house and gardens at the Burns Monument, the Trustees acquired Burns' birthplace in 1881, restoring the cottage, which had been used for a century as an ale house, and later adding a museum, rebuilt in 1920, to house their increasing collection of burns manuscripts, artefacts and other Burnsiana - now considered to be probably the most important in the world.

In 1995, with assistance form Scottish Enterprise Ayrshire, the Trustees entered into a partnership with the local council, who also played a part in preserving Burns' heritage, through their management of the Brig O'Doon and Auld Kirk Alloway, both important landmarks from Burns life and work. From this partnership, Burns National Heritage Park was formed, comprising all Burns landmarks and monuments in Alloway, supported by the Tam O'Shanter Experience, a modern visitor centre. Since it's opening, Burns National Heritage Park has exceeded to become the most visited destination in the Ayrshire and Arran region. During the 1990's, the various partners raised over £2 million to restore and refurbish much of the Heritage Park. The refurbishment of the Burns Cottage Museum and the redisplay of its internationally important collection is now the Park's main priority.

The collection is a treasure offering a window into a remarkable life, work and legacy of Scotland's National Poet. Several verses of Auld Lang Syne, in the poet's own hand, are among hundreds of manuscripts and holograph letters. An original Kilmarnock Edition (the poet's first published work) takes pride of place among thousands of printed works. Burns' family bible, a pair of pistols he carried as an exciseman and panes of glass from alehouses inscribed with verse by Burns give intimate insights into his life. The power of Burns work to capture our imagination is expressed in paintings such as James Drummond's Tam O' Shanter pursued by the Witch and his beautiful Ayrshire countryside captured by paintings such as David Roberts' Brig o' Doon. The collection has come together to remember Burns, with original models for the town's Burns Statue and paintings of the 1844 Burns Festival.

The Museum redevelopment project seeks to make this unique collection a delightful touchstone with the life and work of Scotland's National Poet, through restoring the ageing museum building and re-housing its hundreds of irreplaceable manuscripts and other artefacts in the modern display, storage and interpretation conditions that they warrant. Working with Burns enthusiasts, specialists, educators and local people, Burns National Heritage Park plans to restore and redevelop the Museum so that the collection is both protected and presented in such a way that all visitors, whether they are new to Burns or not, can get the very most enjoyment. New audio interpretation will also provide better information for those unfamiliar with Burns and the Scots language. Well-known poems such as Ae Fond Kiss will be put into the unique context of Burns life, with objects such as Burns' romantic correspondence with Agnes Maclehose ("Clarinda"). Specially designed displays and activities will encourage younger visitors to participate the creative imagination that was formed during Burns' childhood in Alloway.

In addition to the newly interpreted displays, the project plans to create facilities to support the continued study and preservation of the collection. A new environmentally conditioned storage area will be created for the collection and archive, a library area will be created for the 2600 Burns-related books held by the Trustees and a new education space created to support a range of learning activities. To provide comfort and enjoyment, the current external toilets will be replaced with modern facilities and the shop and cafeteria refurbished and refitted to support the increased volume of visitors expected.

Improving the quality and dignity of physical access is a major concern. Access to the museum and cottage complex will be opened up from the existing car park, reducing the distance people need to travel to enter the museum and keeping visitors (especially younger ones) away from the traffic of the main Alloway road. Cover will be provided for visitors, where previously they had to queue in the open and the project's access policy will guarantee the design and interpretation of the museum reflects the diverse needs of our audience.

The newly refurbished museum will be a living celebration of Robert Burns. It will feature new works inspired by the poet, work by contemporary writers and musicians, community generated exhibits and work by schoolchildren. As well as telling stories of the past, it will use the rich history of Burns' heritage to tell some relevant modern stories, about how we live in the environment, what it means to be Scottish in the 21st Century and the relevance of Burns' call for tolerance and the international brotherhood of humanity in today's world. The new facilities will enable the museum to have a programme of activities and events, educational projects, writers in residence schemes and performances that imbue a traditional cottage museum with contemporary vibrancy.

With the 250th anniversary of Scotland's most famous birthday approaching, on 25th January 2009, the redevelopment of Burns Cottage Museum will be at the forefront of ensuring the public enjoyment and understanding of Robert Burns for generations to come.

For more information about the Burns Cottage Museum Redevelopment Project, click on the Contact Us button and complete the form.

New Plans Unveiled  13/10/2003
Exciting new plans for Burns Birthplace Museum

Burns Cottage Museum achieves Official Status  29/05/2002
Full Museum Registration Achieved

Plans for Cottage Museum  05/04/2002
£2 million plus plans for Burns Cottage Museum.