Ellisland Farm

Take the Virtual Tour

Ellisland Farm is one of the treasures of Scotland. Robert Burns lived here from 1788 to 1791 and during this time worked both as a farmer and excise man. It is reckoned that he wrote almost twenty five per cent of all his letters, poems and songs at Ellisland and the farm buildings and museum retain a very special, inspirational atmosphere.

In the Spence, or sitting room, of the farmhouse there are original manuscripts on display, including ‘The Wounded Hare’, ‘The Whistle’ and an inscription on a glass windowpane of ‘Verse at Friars Carse Hermitage’. It was here in the Spence that Robert Burns did most of his writing.

The windowpane was removed from a small summerhouse on the Friars Carse estate, known as the Hermitage. It can still be reached by visitors via a path across the fields from Ellisland. Burns’ neighbour at Friars Carse was Robert Riddell and he allowed the poet to use the Hermitage to retreat and compose poetry. Friars Carse, was also the location for ‘the whistle’ competition. The story of ‘The Wounded Hare’ is depicted in the dioramas in the farm steading buildings. Other treasures to be found in the farmhouse include Burns’ travelling trunk, his flute, his copy of ‘The Man of Feeling’ and George Thomson’s own copy of ‘Original Scottish Airs’. There is a fine bookcase holding a wide variety of books that are proof of the large personal library owned by Robert Burns, and of his support for the nearby lending library.

In the Granary there are many items commemorating the life and times of Robert Burns. There is an audio visual presentation about Burns which focuses on his days at Ellisland, and on display there are items associated with his work in the Excise. Treasures include his sword, his set of brass pocket scales (pictured) and an arithmetic book with his own notes on various pages. Excise was a tax similar to VAT, but collected at the point of manufacture or import, rather than sale. Burns had to travel the area to calculate and collect the tax due on a wide range of goods, most notably, silk, tobacco and beer and spirits.

In the section featuring Burns’ wife, Jean Armour there are some of her personal possessions on display, including her mutch or cap.

Ellisland has a varied collection of agricultural implements that reflect the heritage of life on a farm where horses were the prime source of power. The steading buildings contain many objects that give an insight into farming traditions that are rapidly disappearing. In the Orchard, which gave Burns his first cash crop, you will find ploughs and grubbers among the apple trees.

Visitors will discover that the unique feature of Ellisland is the sense of place and atmosphere that encouraged Robert Burns in his writing. You can still walk along the path by the River Nith where he composed his masterpiece ‘Tam o’Shanter’ (pictured), or see the field where he found the ‘wounded hare’.

Our tour now takes us to an astonishing collection of Burns’ work in the picturesque town of Kirkcudbright. Head back to Dumfries and west on the A75 and follow road signs for Kirkcudbright and then heritage signs to Broughton House on the town’s main street.