Broughton House

Today's the day ………………………. to be under threat

This fine 18th-century town house is to be found in the High Street of Kirkcudbright - and was the home of the Scottish impressionist artist A. E. Hornel between 1901 and his death in 1933.

At the present time, Broughton House is in the care of the National Trust for Scotland  who maintain the house and its contents as a museum of Hornel's life and work.  But in response to the Covid19 pandemic, the NTS plans not to open around half its properties this summer - and Broughton House is one of them. This will mean redundancy for its four dedicated staff and specialist gardener.

As well as being a tragedy for the staff, closure will mean the NTS will lose a huge store of irreplaceable knowledge about the property and its priceless collection of paintings, artefacts and books – including one of the largest collections in the world of Robert Burns.  Without proper attention, the artist-designed garden will also suffer.

It's a story that will no doubt be replicated many times throughout the UK over the coming months ……………..