Peter Pan Moat Brae Trust

General information

"… when the shades of night began to fall, certain young mathematicians shed their triangles, crept up walls and down trees, and became pirates in a sort of Odyssey that was long afterwards to become the play of Peter Pan. For our escapades in a certain Dumfries Garden, which is enchanted land to me, were certainly the genesis of that nefarious work, Peter Pan." JM Barrie

Moat Brae, a fine Georgian townhouse and garden in Dumfries, was the childhood playground of the author of Peter Pan, the place where he had his earliest adventures and played pirate games. We have saved Moat Brae from demolition and are restoring it and creating a new international visitor attraction and centre for Children's Literature.

Designed in 1823 by the architect Walter Newall, for Robert Threshie of Barnbarroch. The interior of the house is arranged around a theatrical circular gallery and lantern over the central saloon.

It is a medium scale Greek Revival villa, rising to 2 storeys with a raised basement and extending to 5 bays.

The house is in polished red ashlar and is attributed to Walter Newall.

The roof is in slate with corniced end stacks. The front elevation features a central pedimented Doric porch, approached via flyover steps and with spear-headed cast-iron railings adjoining.

Aproned 12-pane sash windows sit throughout, those to the ground floor topped with consoled cornices. The interior features a square central hall with a circular first floor gallery and a domed glass roof.

The plasterwork features Greek Revival ornament, whilst a Doric frieze sits in the entrance lobby. The interior was altered during the house’s conversion into a nursing home.

The Peter Pan Moat Brae Trust is a Registered Scottish Charity Number SC041382. Company Number SC363695. VAT Registration No.133412160.