Scottish mansion that served as an inspiration for Peter Pan set to reopen as café
JM Barrie’s time playing at Moat Brae as a teenager helped inspire his creation of Peter Pan
A Dumfries mansion that served as the inspiration for one of the world's most beloved children's stories is set to open its doors again. Moat Brae, the childhood playground of author JM Barrie, is preparing for a new chapter following its sale earlier this year.
It is hoped that the stately home will be able to reopen by mid-July, nearly a year after its sudden closure. Built in 1823, the elegant Greek revival villa stands two storeys high above a raised basement and commands five bays.
Moat Brae was among the earliest houses built on what became George Street and occupies a generous plot sloping down to the River Nith. It was here, in the house and its enchanted garden, that Barrie spent formative years from the ages of 13 to 18.
Those days of adventure would go on to shape one of the most iconic tales in history. Barrie was a student at Dumfries Academy while living at Moat Brae.
Reflecting on the time, Barrie once described the grounds of the estate as "enchanted land" and said they were a big inspiration for his most famous work.
He said: “When shades of night began to fall, certain young mathematicians shed their triangles and crept up trees and down walls in an odyssey which was long after 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.”
Moat Brae later became a national centre for children’s literature, opening in 2019 after a major fundraising drive. But the dream was short-lived.
After navigating a Covid shutdown and struggling with rising costs, reduced funding and lower-than-expected visitor numbers, the Peter Pan Moat Brae Trust went into liquidation, prompting its closure in August 2024.
Scottish history
The property was put up for sale and was bought by a property developer in March this year. Since then, efforts have been quietly underway to breathe new life into the historic site.
While the main building will be converted into office space, part of the site is set to welcome the public once more in a different guise.
Curtis Silver, originally from Eastbourne, has taken over the café space in the building’s extension and is aiming for a summer launch.
“The old building, the Moat Brae building, is going to be offices,” he told the BBC. “The extension – where the café is – is what I am taking over. I saw this opportunity and I am now moving here to put all of my energy and passion into it.”
His new venture, Pans Café, will serve high-quality brunches and takeaway options, with a focus on appealing to office workers in the area.
While Moat Brae’s future as a literary centre remains uncertain, Silver said there may still be room for a nod to its magical past.
“One room in the property could be set aside to celebrate the origins of the Peter Pan story,” he added, “but that plan was yet to be finalised.”