Re-thatching the Bachelors’ Club

A place that shaped Scotland’s greatest poet

Just a few years before he published his debut collection of poems in 1786, Robert Burns co-founded the Tarbolton Bachelors’ Club – a 17th-century house with distinctive red shutters. In this place, the young Burns not only honed his poetic craft but also learned to dance, became a Freemason, and established one of Scotland’s earliest rural debating societies. Over 250 years later, it continues to captivate Burns enthusiasts worldwide.

Protecting the building’s integrity

However, this unique building faces a perpetual challenge: the Scottish climate, especially the amount of rainfall on the west coast. The thatched roof of the Bachelors’ Club is a crucial part of its character, but thatch needs to be tidied and replaced every 10–20 years. The effects of Scotland’s damp winters exacerbates the decay.

In 2024, we will enlist a skilled thatcher to restore the roof using traditional techniques and reeds sourced from the River Tay.