JM Barrie lived in Dumfries from 1873 to 1878 and wrote Peter Pan in 1904 as a play, which went on to successfully inspire generations of young people to read and enjoy his wonderful stories. During his time in Dumfries, he often visited Moat Brae and went on to say that the gardens were ‘enchanted lands’ to him and went on to inspire the world of Peter Pan.
A dedicated group of committed local people, led by the Peter Pan Action group, got together in 2009 and committed to find a way in which to keep JM Barrie, Moat Brae and Dumfries, his childhood home town at the forefront of children’s literature – after fund raising for 10 years their vision, hard work and unstinting commitment resulted in the re-opening of Moat Brae as a literary destination for all ages in 2019.
A wonderfully designed and re-imagined house, an insight into JM Barrie and how he imagined children would read and interact with his stories, you can sit at the dining table with JM Barrie and his school friends, help catch Peter Pan’s shadow and even put on a costume and star in a play of your own. This is a place to rediscover your childhood fantasies and relive the sense of wonder from the first time you read your favourite story.
Moat Brae is also the National Centre for Children’s Literature and is dedicated to developing a love of books in young readers. School classes are welcome for day visits and programmed events. The Enchanted Lands garden offers adventure and inspiration to young explorers. You never know what you will find amongst the towering trees and colourful flowerbeds. Crocodiles, pirate ships, mermaids and more!
Moat Brae’s main claim to fame is that it inspired the creation of arguably the world’s most popular character in children’s literature – Peter Pan. The author and playwright JM Barrie derived the inspiration from his time as a pupil at Dumfries Academy and while growing up in Dumfries, from 1873 to 1878. During this time he became great friends with Hal and Stuart Gordon, who lived at Moat Brae with their parents, and often visited the house, and especially the garden, which he later described as “enchanted land”, adding that it provided “the genesis of that nefarious work...Peter Pan.”
Barrie wrote the play ‘Peter Pan or The Boy Who Wouldn’t Grow Up’ in 1904. It went on to inspire generations of young people to read and enjoy his wonderful stories.
To claim this cache there is some information required all of which is within sight of the published co-ordinates. The cache is hidden a short walk away.
There is no need to enter Moat Brae for which there is a charge. Parking is widely available on the nearby streets (2hrs)
ABCD = The date on the bench to the left of the building
E = the number of letters in the word within speech marks on the bronze plaque above the bench.
F = the number of pillars
The cache can be found at : N 55 04.FDB W 003 36. (C+D)E(E-A)