Protecting Burns’s Legacy
Donate todayHelp preserve the historic sites linked to Scotland’s most famous bard.
Robert Burns’s poetry offers an intimate glimpse into 18th-century Scottish life. It includes vivid depictions of nature, love, politics, and even biting satire aimed at the Kirk. His work helped put Scottish culture on the world map, making it an irreplaceable part of our shared history.
This St Andrew’s Day, we are aiming to raise £130,000 to repair and preserve two important landmarks tied to Burns’s life and legacy: Bachelors’ Club and Souter Johnnie’s Cottage. These iconic sites are in urgent need of repair, and we need your support to protect them for future generations.
Bachelors’ Club
Co-founded by Robert Burns in Tarbolton, the Bachelors’ Club played a pivotal role in shaping the poet’s early years. Here, Burns learned to dance, joined the Freemasons and founded one of Scotland’s first rural debating societies. Over 250 years later, the site continues to inspire Burns enthusiasts from all over the world.
Souter Johnnie’s Cottage
And at his elbow, Souter Johnie,
His ancient, trusty, drouthy crony;
Tam lo’ed him like a very brither,
They had been fou for weeks thegither
Built in 1785 by shoemaker John Davidson, better known as Souter Johnnie, this cottage immortalises the character from Burns’s famous poem Tam o’ Shanter. The tale of Tam’s thrilling ride home after an evening with his drinking companion Souter Johnnie remains a vivid part of Scottish folklore.
Did you know?
The Bachelors’ Club is thatched with reed, while Souter Johnnie’s Cottage has a straw thatch. These roofs require replacement every 20–25 years for reed and 10–15 years for straw. As traditional thatching skills have become increasingly rare, we recently brought in a skilled thatcher all the way from Yorkshire!
Donate nowWhy we need your help
Both the Bachelors’ Club and Souter Johnnie’s Cottage hold immense cultural and historical significance, offering rare glimpses into the world of Scotland’s national poet. But these treasures are at risk.
Due to moisture damage from previous renovations, both buildings are now suffering from cracked brickwork, damaged mortar and deteriorating interiors. With rainfall projected to increase by 11% annually, these conditions will only worsen if left untreated. Without intervention, these key connections to Burns and 18th-century Ayrshire could be lost forever.
Without intervention, these key connections to Burns and 18th-century Ayrshire could be lost forever.
Our plan to save these historic sites
This spring, we’ll begin critical restoration work to safeguard these buildings for the future. Our plan includes:
- Stripping away damaged masonry paint and plaster to reveal and repair the underlying brick and stonework
- Repointing and applying harling (a traditional lime and aggregate mixture) to protect the exterior while allowing moisture to escape
- Replacing the interior plaster with traditional lime plaster to prevent future moisture issues
How you can help
The total cost of this vital restoration project is £330,000. The Trust has already committed £200,000, but we still need to raise an additional £130,000 to complete the work.
Will you donate today to help us reach our goal and protect these historic sites for future generations?
Your contribution will have a lasting impact on preserving Robert Burns’s legacy and Scotland’s cultural heritage.
Donate now to ensure these treasured landmarks stand strong for centuries to come.
Your contribution will have a lasting impact on preserving Robert Burns’s legacy and Scotland’s cultural heritage.
Protecting Burns’s Legacy
Please help us preserve the historic sites linked to Scotland’s most famous bard.