The opening of Moat Brae, the house and garden where Peter Pan began, was celebrated with a colourful garden party hosted the trustees of the Peter Pan Moat Brae Trust (PPMBT) along with Patron Joanna Lumley.
Among the guests at Friday afternoon’s event, which was held to thank supporters and funders and welcome future partners, was Scottish Government Cabinet Secretary for Culture and Tourism Fiona Hyslop MSP.
Saved from demolition 10 years ago the beautiful Georgian property overlooking the river Nith, in Dumfries, has been restored and transformed into Scotland’s new National Centre for Storytelling and Children’s Literature.
As Patron of the Peter Pan Moat Brae Trust (PPMBT) Joanna Lumley championed the £8 million fundraising campaign which turned the derelict building into an international visitor attraction expected to attract 31,000 people a year and bring £1.3 million to the area’s economy.
Moat Brae was where the young J.M. Barrie and his friends played the games that inspired Peter Pan, and the trust’s ambition has been to make it into a place that will fire young people’s imaginations and creativity.
Joanna Lumley said: “Moat Brae proves that dreams really can come true. Children and young people from Scotland and far beyond now have a place that’s dedicated not just to Peter Pan, but to the love of all children’s stories and literature.
“They can come here to play, daydream and build their creative imaginations, just like J.M. Barrie did.
“And with the doors about to open to the public it’s wonderful to have been able to attend this party and say a personal ‘thank you’ to all those who have made this day possible – and to welcome some of those we will work with in the future.”
Dame Barbara Kelly, PPMBT Chairman, added: “Moat Brae is a magical place. Its opening to the public, after a decade of hard work by so many people, is a great moment for Moat Brae, for Dumfries and for Scotland.”
Among the key partners are Heritage Lottery Fund, The Castansa Trust, Historic Environment Scotland, Scottish Enterprise, Scottish Government,Dumfries & Galloway Council and Creative Scotland and The Robertson Trust. There have also been many other funders (see below).
Ms Hyslop said: “It’s a pleasure to see the house and garden which inspired J.M. Barrie being saved and given a positive new future.
“It’s a remarkable feat which shows what can happen when the Scottish Government and its agencies work together with local authorities, charities, businesses and the community to achieve a shared vision.
“Moat Brae is a fabulous new attraction for the whole of Scotland, and will provide a magical experience for children and young people from every part of the world.”
The house and garden fully opened to the public today (Saturday, 1 June).
About Moat Brae
Visitors will be able to enjoy themed interactive exhibits, reading and play areas, temporary exhibitions, a shop and café overlooking the Nith. There will be costumed guides, discovery trails and a year-round programme of inspirational activities.
Among the delightful features will be the original Tinker Bell (a small bell that J.M. Barrie bought to be rung whenever his fairy character appeared in the original stage version of the story) and a spectacular dolls’ house nearly 6ft tall.
And outside, in the grounds where JM Barrie played pirates in the 1870s, will be the Neverland Discovery Garden with:
- A pirate ship
- Wendy house
- Mermaid’s Lagoon
- A performance space and much more …
Moat Brae, which J.M. Barrie referred to as “enchanted land” will stage a wide variety of events and educational programmes.
It will also celebrate the immense richness of modern and classic poems, stories and children’s literature and illustrations from at home and abroad.
Picture by Neil Hanna
- See the website at https://www.peterpanmoatbrae.org
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Notes for Editors
- For media information contact Matthew Shelley at [email protected] or on 07786 704299.
- Pictures are being circulated with this release and on request.
- More photographs are available here or from the DropBox folder at http://bit.ly/2VDfn2o or on request.
Main funders
Founding Partners: Heritage Lottery Fund,The Castansa Trust,Historic Environment Scotland,Scottish Enterprise,Scottish Government,Dumfries & Galloway Council.
Darling Donors: The Robertson Trust,William Grant Foundation,The Foyle Foundation,The Binks Trust,Garfield Weston Foundation,The Andrew Salvesen Family Trust,Tam O’Shanter Trust,The Landale Family Charitable Trust,Foundation Scotland, Landfill Communities Fund,The Pilgrim Trust,The Hugh Fraser Foundation,Barscobe Heritage Trust,The Walt Disney Company,The Estate of Kirsty Maxwell Stuart,The Estate of Robin Callander,Drigg Young Farmers Club,Solway Heritage,The Crocodile Fund.
Peter Donors: Dunard Fund,The Turtleton Trust,Architectural Heritage Fund,WD Forsyth Fund,The Buccleuch Charitable Foundation,The Stairway Charitable Trust,The Laggan Trust,The Batchworth Trust,The Barfil Charitable Trust,The Holywood Trust.
Tinker Bell Donors: The Rothschild Foundation,The John Younger Trust,St Hilary Trust,Bookwell Primary School,The People’s Project,The Portling Pirates.
About J M Barrie and the Trust
- Author and playwright J M Barrie lived in Dumfries from the age of 13 to 17, and played in the garden at Moat Brae. His first work of fiction was a “log book” recording the games of pirates and adventure that he played there under the name of “Sixteen String Jack”. He attended the nearby Dumfries Academy and enjoyed his first experiences in staged productions at Dumfries Theatre Royal.
- J M Barrie returned to the town and on being awarded the Freedom of Dumfries, he described his childhood there as “the happiest days” of his life.
- The Peter Pan Moat Brae Trust was set up in 2009 to save Moat Brae House and garden from demolition and to celebrate its international literary connection as ‘The Birthplace of Peter Pan’. * For more information log onto the Trust website www.peterpanmoatbrae.org * Follow on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/MoatBrae and twitter@ppmbt
- For more information please contact Catherine Colwell 01387 255 549/07793 488 439.
About The National Lottery Heritage Fund
Using money raised by the National Lottery, we Inspire, lead and resourcethe UK’s heritage to create positive and lasting change for people and communities, now and in the future. www.HeritageFund.org.uk. Follow @HeritageFundUK on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram and use #NationalLotteryHeritageFund.
About Creative Scotland
Creative Scotland is the public body that supports the arts, screen and creative industries across all parts of Scotland on behalf of everyone who lives, works or visits here. We enable people and organisations to work in and experience the arts, screen and creative industries in Scotland by helping others to develop great ideas and bring them to life. We distribute funding provided by the Scottish Government and the National Lottery. For further information about Creative Scotland please visit www.creativescotland.com. Follow us @creativescots and www.facebook.com/CreativeScotland.