On 25th January 1759, Scotland’s best-loved poet, Robert Burns, was born amidst a blast of icy wind in a humble cottage in Alloway.
The National Trust for Scotland is proud to be at the heart of celebrations in the redevelopment of the Burns National Heritage Park in Alloway, Ayrshire.
This project will involve the redevelopment of whole site and the building of a new museum – Robert Burns Birthplace Museum – to house the most important Burns collection in the world.
Work has begun on site in Alloway, but visitors to the Burns National Heritage Park can still visit the Tam O’ Shanter Experience, Auld Kirk, Brigg o’ Doon, Burns Monument and beautiful memorial gardens. The new museum will be open in November this year.
The world’s most significant Burns collection will also continue to be displayed in the current museum and the historic Burns Monument and beautiful commemorative gardens are a fitting tribute to the life of Scotland ’s National Bard.
A special celebration of an internationally loved Scottish writer
The National Trust for Scotland was first approached to take the lead on delivering this project in 2004. This project is the largest and most ambitious project the charity has even undertaken.
We will create a new world class Robert Burns Birthplace Museum, due to open in Autumn 2010. We’ve already carried out a major re-interpretation of the cottage where Burns was born and built exciting new education facilities. Improvements will also be seen at the Burns Monument, Brig o’ Doon and Auld Kirk.
Burns is central to the life and culture of the nation and he is widely regarded as a Scottish icon. The Trust will safeguard the place of his birth and create a new museum that will preserve the Burns legacy for future generations.
The Robert Burns Birthplace Museum project will cost £21m this is made up of:
£5.8 m Heritage Lottery Fund
£7.6m contribution from the Scottish Government
£250,000 from Scottish Enterprise Ayrshire
Land in Alloway worth an estimates worth of £2.885m from South Ayrshire Council
www.nts.org.uk/burns