Neverland

I cycled into town today to get a paper, have a swim and visit my friend Virginia. Virginia lives next to Moat Brae, the lovely house in this photo, which was built in 1823 to a design by the Dumfries architect Walter Newall. As a boy, JMBarrie played in the gardens of Moat Brae House, and said that they inspired him to write 'Peter Pan'. The house became a nursing home and then a private hospital which closed in 1997. Ten years of neglect and decay followed, until campaigners raised funds and created the Peter Pan Moat Brae Trust, with the aim of restoring the house and gardens and creating a Centre for Children's Literature. Already, the house is looking better as the restoration has begun. You can read more about it at this link