Name: J M Barrie's Birthplace
Rating: 5.0

J M Barrie's Birthplace

9 Brechin Road, Kirriemuir, Dundee and Angus, DD8 4BX, Scotland

1-90 Years

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Description

J M Barrie’s Birthplace in Kirriemuir is the childhood home of the creator of Peter Pan. This small whitewashed cottage is where Barrie grew up and first discovered his love for storytelling and theatre. It offers a quiet, thoughtful visit into the early life of one of Britain’s most famous writers.

Visitors can explore the traditional weaver’s house where Barrie lived with his seven brothers and sisters, see the downstairs weaving workshop, and visit the wash house that became his first theatre. The exhibition tells the story of Barrie’s life and work and includes his original writing desk from his London flat. Outside, Tick Tock’s jungle-themed garden features a life-sized driftwood crocodile, dress-up activities for children, and a picnic area.

House entry prices are £9.50 for adults, £8.50 for concessions, £23.00 for families, £17.50 for one adult families, and £1.00 for Young Scot card holders. The garden is free to visit for all guests.

With its personal stories, original belongings, and imaginative links to Peter Pan, J M Barrie’s Birthplace is a special place to visit. It offers insight into the author’s early life and creative inspiration. The house and garden together create a calm and memorable experience for literature lovers and families alike.

Features

Paid
Host birthday parties: No

Features

Tick Tock’s garden: Relax in this small jungle-themed garden and listen to the tick-tock of time inside our magnificent life-sized, driftwood crocodile, Tick-Tock (from Peter Pan). Bring a packed lunch to enjoy at our picnic table. Let the kids rummage in our dress-up box and watch as they transform into Peter Pan, Captain Hook or Tinkerbell and set sail on the Seven Seas pirate ship!
The Barrie’s belongings: At J M Barrie’s birthplace, we are fortunate to have some of the Barrie family’s personal belongings on loan or in our collection. See the little leather-encased trunk with its original Dumfries ‘PAID’ sticker and padlock. James Barrie left Kirriemuir at age eight and carried his possessions and books to and from school in this trunk. Imagine taking tea in the parlour and sipping from James’s mother, Margaret Ogilvie’s delicate, pink, hand-painted, bone china teacup.
Wash house theatre: Visit the young author’s first theatre, where he would perform his little plays for his friends from his stage on top of the copper boiler. Entry could be gained by giving up your marbles, spinning tops or other small toys. The wash house is intact today and would have been a busy little place where the whole tenement row had their days for washing. Water would have been collected daily from a stand pump at the wash house door. It has been said that this little house with its chimney inspired the Wendy house in Peter Pan.
Costumes and clothing: Step into our exhibition room and journey back in time with the original Peter Pan costumes. Hand-sewn from leather and fabric, these iconic pieces with applique leaves on both costumes hold a significant place in theatre history. The back originally featured a gap to accommodate the flying wires, a testament to the costumes’ roles in bringing the beloved character to life.
Self-guided tours: Upon arrival, we’ll offer you an introduction to J M Barrie and his home. We then invite you to take a self-guided tour – each room has information sheets but please feel free to ask us any questions about the property or the man. Watch out for the hidden gems and the secret doodles on the settle!

Facilities

Parking: There are several car parks in Kirriemuir, operated by Angus Council.
Food & Drinks: Kirriemuir has an abundance of cafés and hotels within easy walking distance of the property.
Picnics: There is a picnic area in the garden.

What to see

The world-famous creator of Peter Pan was born in this traditional weaver’s house.

Discover this typical weaver’s house, where everyone lived upstairs and the windows are large so that looms could be removed.
Stop by the wash house where the young author performed his first play at the age of seven and that provided inspiration for the Wendy house in Peter Pan.
Look out for original costumes from the first production of Peter Pan.
See the box beds where the Barrie children would have slept, crowded together.
Explore our jungle-themed garden, complete with a new sculpture of Tick Tock, the crocodile from Peter Pan.