Ellisland Farm facts for kids
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| Established | 1788 |
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| Location | Holywood Road, Auldgirth, Dumfries DG2 0RP, United Kingdom |
Ellisland Farm is a special place located about 10 kilometers (6.5 miles) northwest of Dumfries, near the village of Auldgirth in Scotland. It's a museum because it was once the home and farm of the famous Scottish poet, Robert Burns. He lived and worked here from 1788 to 1791. This farm is a great place to learn about his life and the amazing poems and songs he wrote.
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History of Ellisland Farm
Ellisland Farm wasn't always there. Old maps from the 1700s don't show any buildings at this spot. The name "Ellisland" might come from "Isle's Land," which was a nearby estate. It's thought that the river here was easier to cross back then, and there was even a shallow crossing point nearby.
Why Robert Burns Chose Ellisland
Robert Burns was looking for a farm, and his friend Patrick Miller of Dalswinton offered him a choice of three. Ellisland was on the west side of the River Nith. It had some good land near the river and stonier fields closer to the main road.
Burns visited Ellisland in February 1788 with a friend. He took his friend's advice and decided to lease the farm from Patrick Miller. The lease was for a long time, 76 years, but it was broken into shorter periods. For the first three years, the rent was £50 a year, and then it would go up to £70.
Burns had written to Patrick Miller in 1787, saying he wanted a small farm in a nice area with a good landlord. He wanted to live simply, like an old-fashioned farmer, and work hard. He also said that the banks of the River Nith were very poetic, and he would rather have Miller as his landlord than anyone else.
The Burns Family Moves In
Robert Burns didn't start farming right away. Ellisland didn't have a farmhouse or farm buildings yet. Patrick Miller gave Burns £300 to build a house, a barn, a cart shed, and to buy animals and fence the fields.
Robert had married Jean Armour in March 1788. But they couldn't move into the new farm until the next spring. At first, Robert stayed with the previous tenant in a small cottage. In December, Jean joined him, and they stayed at a country house nearby.
The whole family, including Robert, Jean, and their young son Robert, moved into Ellisland in June 1789. They walked from their temporary home in a procession. To bring good luck, they wore their best clothes. A servant carried the family bible with a bowl of salt on top. When Robert and Jean entered, an oat-cake was broken over Jean's head. Everyone then had a drink to celebrate their new home. The evening ended with a "house warming" party, with dancing and friends.
Jean was known as a good and careful housewife. She kept the house neat and tidy and made sure there was plenty of healthy food. Robert's sons, Francis Wallace and William Nicol, were born at Ellisland Farm. His half-sister Betty also spent her first few months here.
Life on the Farm
The house Burns built was on a gravelly bank above the river. It had one main floor with small rooms upstairs for servants. There was a special "company" room for guests and a sitting room with a window that offered beautiful views. The kitchen and a bedroom were in the middle of the house.
The stonemason was Alexander Crombie, and Thomas Boyd was the architect. The building took a long time to finish. In the kitchen, there are special marks carved into the fireplace. These "apotropaic" marks were believed to protect the house from bad spirits entering through the chimney. There was also a small window, now closed up, near the fireplace, which was thought to send any bad spirits right out of the house.
The house you see today is very similar to the one Burns built. Even though some say his cottage was pulled down in 1812, it's likely that most of the original walls are still standing. A fresh spring flowed into a basin down the slope towards the river, providing water for the family.
The farm had about 69 hectares (170 acres) of land. It was rented for £50 a year at first. The land was not in great condition; it was stony and needed a lot of work. Burns had about 9 or 10 cows, including some good Ayrshire cows, 4 horses, and some pet sheep. He introduced the Ayrshire way of dairying, making cheese, including cheese from ewe's milk. He also grew crops like oats. Burns was one of the first to bring Ayrshire cattle to Dumfrieshire. Other farmers soon followed him when they saw how much more milk these cows produced.
Leaving Ellisland
Robert Burns tried different types of farming, but he eventually decided to give up the farm. His job as an exciseman (someone who collected taxes on goods) seemed to pay better. For two years, Burns worked as both a farmer and an exciseman. He had to ride many miles each week for his excise duties, and he also had to work hard in the fields.
In 1790, the yearly rent for the farm went up to £90. Burns decided that farming at Ellisland was "altogether a ruinous business" because the land was so difficult. His friends from Ayrshire had given him advice based on their own land, which was very different from Ellisland's soil.
Burns sold his crops in August. On November 11, 1791, the Burns family left Ellisland Farm. They moved to the town of Dumfries, about 10 kilometers (6 miles) away.
Ellisland After Burns (1791–1921)
After Robert Burns left, Patrick Miller sold the farm for £1900. The new owner, Mr. Taylor, changed some of the farm buildings, but the farmhouse itself stayed much the same as it was when Burns lived there.
Burns loved to write on windowpanes. One of his favorite lines, "An honest man's the noblest work of God," was carved into a window at Ellisland. Sadly, this was damaged in 1876. Ellisland continued to be a working farm until 1921.
Robert Burns's Poetry, Songs, and Letters
During his time at Ellisland, Robert Burns was incredibly creative. He wrote many famous works here.
After meeting Captain Francis Grose, Burns agreed to write a poem for Grose's book about Scottish history. This poem became his masterpiece, Tam o'Shanter. It's a long, funny story about a man's wild night.
Burns also wrote Auld Lang Syne at Ellisland. This song is now sung all over the world, especially on New Year's Eve, to remember old friends and good times. Burns said that the Scottish phrase "Auld lang syne" (meaning "old long since" or "times gone by") was very powerful.
In his relatively short stay at Ellisland, Burns wrote over 130 songs and poems. This is about a quarter of all his work! Even while working as a farmer and exciseman, he also managed to write around 230 letters. The song Willie Brew'd a Peck o'Maut was also written here.
Burns wrote many songs for a young woman named Jean Lorimer, who often visited Ellisland. He called her "Chloris" in his poems. He also wrote Mary in Heaven in the farm's stack yard.
Robert Burns also wrote many passionate letters to Mrs. Agnes Craig McLehose, whom he called "Clarinda." They exchanged letters and used these special names for each other. This love story inspired one of his most famous love songs, 'Ae Fond Kiss'.
Burns wrote On seeing a Wounded Hare limp by me, which a Fellow had just shot after a local farmer's son shot a hare out of season. Burns was very angry about this.
The Hermitage: A Quiet Writing Spot
Robert Burns's neighbor, Captain Robert Riddell of Glenriddel, had a small summer house called the 'Hermitage' on his estate, not far from Ellisland. Burns often used this peaceful place for writing poetry, as he had been given the key.
The original Hermitage building is no longer there, but a new one was built on the same spot in the 1800s. It was restored in 2009 and now has information boards about its history.
Burns wrote some lines on the window of the original Hermitage:
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"Thou whom chance may hither lead, Life is but a day at most, |
The original window with these lines is now kept safe in the Ellisland Farm museum.
Interesting Facts About Ellisland
The land where Ellisland Farm stands once belonged to important historical figures like the Red Comyn and later Robert the Bruce. North of the farm, there was a place believed to be a camp built by the Roman general Agricola. Burns even used "Agricola" as a secret pen name for some of his writings.
In 1789, Burns witnessed a famous contest at Friar's Carse. People competed to see who could blow a whistle the longest. The winner received an old ebony whistle as a prize. Burns wrote a poem about this event called The Whistle.
In 1788, Robert Burns is said to have watched trials of Patrick Miller's paddle-driven steamboat on a nearby loch. This was a very important moment because it was one of the first times an engine was used to power human transportation anywhere in the world!
Robert Burns and Robert Riddell also started the Monkland Friendly Society in Dunscore. They organized a library of 150 books for the society. Riddell was the president, and Burns was the secretary.
Patrick Miller was also known for bringing new things to Scotland. He introduced "Swedes" (a type of turnip) from Sweden, as well as the threshing mill and the drill plough.
Burns's uncle, Robert Burness, died at Ellisland in 1789. Burns took care of his daughter, Fanny Burness.
Burns apparently left his favorite "putting stone" at Ellisland. If he saw anyone using it, he would join in and always show that he was the strongest.
Ellisland Farm Museum Today
Ellisland Farm was a working farm until 1921. Then, a man named John Wilson bought it and gave it to the nation so everyone could enjoy it. Since 1929, different groups have cared for Ellisland Farm. Today, The Robert Burns Ellisland Trust looks after this special place.
Visitors can explore the farmstead, which looks much like it did in the 1700s. Inside, you can see items that belonged to Robert Burns and his family. There are some of his original writings and even his wife Jean's milking stool. The kitchen still has part of the stove Jean Burns used.
The old Granary and other farm buildings were opened as a museum in 1979. Here, you can learn about farming life from the past. There's also a video presentation in the Granary. You can take walks along the riverside, which are the same paths that inspired Burns to write some of his most famous works. The museum also has a great collection of old farming tools from all over Scotland. The farm's land is still used for grazing animals.
Views of Ellisland Farm
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The farmhouse
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The front of the farmhouse
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An open shed workshop area
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The Granary, where you can see a video
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An exhibition area in the farm museum
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The orchard at Ellisland
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The River Nith and a field at Ellisland Farm
See also
