Moat Brae

Moat Brae is a Greek Revival townhouse in Dumfries featuring a central pedimented Doric porch and red ashlar walls. The building contains a circular first-floor gallery and a square central hall beneath a glass-domed roof that spans five bays.

The house was built in 1823 by architect Walter Newall in the Georgian style. After decades as a private residence, it served as a nursing home from 1914 to 1997 before facing potential demolition.

J.M. Barrie spent his teenage years in the garden here, which later inspired his famous Peter Pan story. The rooms today reflect this literary connection through their design and use.

The site now functions as Scotland's National Centre for Children's Literature and Storytelling, making the interior accessible to visitors. Exhibitions and displays throughout the rooms tell the story of its literary connections and heritage.

The garden behind the house was where Barrie enacted many adventures with friends as a teenager, shaping his imagination in ways that would influence his writing. This outdoor space became the birthplace of ideas that would eventually create the magical world of Neverland.

Location: Dumfries and Galloway

Location: Dumfries

Architectural style: Greek Revival architecture, Georgian architecture

GPS coordinates: 55.07160,-3.61310

Latest update: December 11, 2025 18:02