Families go free next week at Robert Burns Ellisland Farm, which opens its doors for workshops, visits and children’s activities during the local half term. All are themed around Jean Armour, the wife of Robert Burns, whose birthday is on 25 February.
Award winning local musician Emily Smith (Main Image) will lead two children’s workshops on Scots traditional song, as Jean was a notable singer. There will also be demonstrations from Dumfries and Galloway Guild of Spinners, Weavers and Dyers, as well as workshops in Scots Language and butter-making.
Ellisland celebrates Jean as her possessions come out of storage to re-join the museum’s collection. A pillowcase she wove, her cotton hat or “mutch” and a letter from her father are among the items returned from Dumfries Museums where they were kept during the Covid pandemic.
There is a temporary exhibition on the important role Jean Armour Burns played in the story of Ellisland Farm, where she moved after her marriage in 1788. Worksheets and self-led family tours are part of the offer. All children must be accompanied and there will be hot beverages and snacks for sale.
The culmination of the week will be a concert on Saturday evening in praise of Jean, with Robyn Stapleton and Jane Brown. This is a pay for event, and the ticket price includes taster food inspired by Jean’s kitchen including a selection of biscuits from her recipe book baked by catering students from Dumfries and Galloway College.
The programme of activities has been devised by Ellisland’s Museum Development Officer, Caitlin MacLeod and funded by Museums Galleries Scotland.
Caitlin said: “We know the cost of living is hitting families and this offers a chance to enjoy fun and stimulating activities in a place which is a cultural jewel for Dumfries and Galloway.
“We felt it was appropriate to celebrate Jean around the time of her birthday and as we bring her possessions back home.
“Jean Armour was an enormous influence on Burns, inspiring his songs, many of which she probably sang herself as she was known to have a lovely voice.
“Jean was an extremely resourceful woman and we are keen that her importance, ability and talent is recognised. She managed both the farm and the household while her husband worked as an excise officer, including the dairy business making butter and cheese. As well as that she gave birth twice while at Ellisland and had to look after a toddler as well.”
The museum and farm will open for these activities from Wednesday 22 to Sunday 26 March from 11am to 4pm. While the workshops are free, places are expected to be in demand and booking is essential. Please book through Eventbrite here https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/the-robert-burns-ellisland-trust-32170692441 A few tickets are also still available for the concert using the same link.
