MOAT BRAE    ---  PETER PAN MOAT BRAE TRUST 

The Moat Brae House in Dumfries is credited with providing the inspration for James Barrie to write what many people in the English speaking world, The Greatest Fairy Story of all time - PETER PAN.   I am sure many of you have been to theatres over the festive period to see Peter Pan Pantomines and most people will know the story of the little boy who would not grow up.   I remember taking my children to see HOOK a movie starring Dustin Hoffman as a brilliant Captain Hook and Robin Williams as Peter in the form of a grown man - a brilliant adaptation of the original story.   All stories, all adaptations, plays, films and pantomines remain true to the original story and stageplay as written by JM Barrie over a hundred years ago.    It is arguable that the story developed after Barrie befriended the Llewelyn Davies family after a chance meeting in 1897 with George and John (Jack) and baby Peter with their nurse "nanny" Mary Hodgson in Kensington Gardens, London near his home where he regularly walked his Newfoundland Dog, named Porthos !  However, many experts and historians believe that the story first developed whilst Barrie was a student at Dumfries Academy where he befriended Stuart Gordon who's father was a prominent local Solicitor and owned Moat Brae House.   James Barrie played in the house with the Gordon boys and especially the garden where they would play out Pirate stories.

DEKSS Supports the Peter Pan Moat Brae Trust.

Through our Secretary, Graham Hutchison,  our Society is supporting this initiative.  Although the main initial priority was to save the building from demolition and make it safe, there are plans to create a Literacy Centre for Children together with other family and children facilities.

The garden, which was rendered unsafe by vandals is also going to be made into a tourist and cultural attraction.  Exact plans are not yet produced or agreed but the theme will be around children and Peter Pan.