Save The Home of Auld Lang Syne
A Treasure at Risk
Ellisland stands as a living connection to Scotland’s national bard, the place described by Burns as his “sweet poetic ground”. The years Burns lived at Ellisland were among his most prolific. He produced a quarter of his life’s work here, including Auld Lang Syne, the song that ripples across the world as each new year begins.
Today, this site of international significance faces an uncertain future. The passage of time has taken its toll and the home that Burns built for his wife Jean and their young children is threatened by damp, cold, and decay.
We want to:
- Restore the 1788 cottage close to the time Burns lived here with Jean and their young children
- Create a gallery and museum space to safeguard the collection, including original manuscripts and objects belonging to Burns and his family
- Transform the barns and byres into a Centre for Song where new generations of artists can work, perform and share their learning.
- Recreate the “hermitage” bothy where Burns retreated to write among nature – so today’s visitors can immerse themselves in the place which inspired Auld Lang Syne
- Develop new income streams to protect Ellisland and its outside spaces – including woods, paths and fields created by Burns.
- Embark on a major international fund-raising campaign to Save the Home of Auld Lang Syne and increase awareness of its cultural significance
- Deliver a lively programme of events that include children and young people, the community and local and international artists.
- Use the asset we have at Ellisland to increase economic prosperity in South Scotland and enhance wellbeing with skills training, jobs and volunteering opportunities.
More than conservation
We are embarking on a journey to preserve this precious site and bring it back to life as Burns would have known it. Inspired by the natural world, Burns poured his energy into works that continue to resonate with millions. Our plans honour this creative legacy by recreating the environment that sparked his imagination.
We will restore the 1788 cottage to how it appeared when Burns, Jean, and their young children made it their home, including the Spence where Burns wrote by candlelight.
Protecting and enhancing
The collection of precious manuscripts and personal items will find a secure home in a new gallery and museum space, ensuring these treasures are protected for future generations.
The barns and byres where the family once tended livestock will be transformed into a Centre for Song, where new generations of artists can work, perform and share their learning.
We will develop a lively programme of events that include children and young people, the community and local and international artists, and perhaps most poignantly, we will recreate the ‘hermitage’ bothy where Burns often retreated to write in solitude.
A landscape of inspiration
Burns didn’t simply live at Ellisland, he designed it. The woods, paths, and fields he created remain largely unchanged, offering a direct connection to the landscape that inspired him.
The riverside path where the idea for Tam o Shanter first came to him, the field where he witnessed the wounded hare that moved him to compassion, the orchard where he harvested his first crop of apples, all these spaces tell the story of Burns’s connection to the natural world.
Our conservation efforts will protect these outdoor spaces, allowing visitors to walk where Burns walked, see what Burns saw, and perhaps feel a touch of the inspiration that moved him.
Be Part of the Story
In the coming months we embark on the first stage of a plan to save the site thanks to the generosity of our funders.
We are inviting you to help save this irreplaceable piece of cultural heritage, whether through helping us spread the word, volunteering your time, or contributing financial support, your support is vital to our success. By pledging your support, you become part of a community dedicated to preserving not just a building, but the living spirit of Burns’s creative legacy.
There are two main ways you can help Save the Home of Auld Lang Syne – signing up for our e-newsletter and becoming a member of the Robert Burns Ellisland Trust.
Sign up using the form below to receive updates on our progress and learn about opportunities to participate in this historic preservation effort. Join us in ensuring that when people around the world join hands to sing Auld Lang Syne, the place where those immortal words were penned is protected, as a testament to Robert Burns’s enduring legacy.
Become a Member
Individual membership brings you into our community of dedicated supporters, offering special access to events and updates on our conservation journey. Burns Clubs around the world can establish a direct link to the creative heart of Burns’ work through club membership, creating a bridge between their celebrations and the very place where Auld Lang Syne was born.
For those wishing to make a more significant impact, The Glencairn Circle, named after Burns’s patron and friend, welcomes individuals, organisations, and companies committed to securing Ellisland’s future. Like Lord Glencairn himself, who recognised and supported Burns’ genius, Glencairn Circle members play a vital role in ensuring this wellspring of creativity remains accessible for future generations.
Using money raised by National Lottery players, The National Lottery Heritage Fund supports projects that connect people and communities with the UK’s heritage.
Saving the Home of Auld Lang Syne is made possible with The National Lottery Heritage Fund. Thanks to National Lottery players.
Also funded by
Fundraising
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Become a member
Find out how to become a member at Ellisland.
Burns at Ellisland
Burns experienced his most creative and fruitful years here at Ellisland with Jean Armour and their children. He found great poetic inspiration in the beauty of the surrounding countryside, the various people he met and the events he witnessed whilst living here.
Burns Attractions
Ellisland Museum & Farm is conveniently situated on the road between Robert Burns’ birthplace in Alloway and his final resting place at St Michael’s Cemetery in Dumfries. Ellisland is part of the Footsteps of Burns trail in and around Dumfries.