The modest weaver’s house where J. M. Barrie was born now preserves domestic rooms, family objects and the beginnings of his theatrical imagination.
Quick facts
- Date
- Late eighteenth or early nineteenth century
- Architect / designer
- Unknown
- Type
- Weaver’s dwelling and literary museum
- Designation
- Listed building, Category B (LB36895)
- OS grid reference
- NO 38714 54045
Architecture and continuing use
A simple two-storey, four-window frontage is finished in harl beneath a slated roof. The restrained exterior belongs to a traditional working household rather than a purpose-built monument, helping the museum retain the scale of Barrie’s childhood surroundings.
Its story
The house was built in the late eighteenth or early nineteenth century. James Matthew Barrie was born here in 1860, and his parents remained until 1870. The National Trust for Scotland now interprets the family home, Barrie’s life and the adjacent wash-house theatre.
Why it is included
Category B listing recognises a characteristic small-town dwelling with exceptional literary association as Barrie’s birthplace and childhood home.
What to notice
- The plain four-window harled frontage.
- The compact scale of the former weaver’s home.
- The relationship between house, yard and wash-house theatre.
Reading the surroundings
Visit only during the Trust’s advertised opening period. The cottage is not wheelchair-accessible; consult the current accessibility guide, and do not assume the garden, shop and house share identical hours.
Timeline
- Late 18th–early 19th century The Brechin Road tenement was built as part of Kirriemuir’s weaving town.
- 1860 James Matthew Barrie was born in the house.
- 1870 Barrie’s parents left the property.
- 2026 The National Trust for Scotland continued to operate the birthplace as a museum.
What we know — and what remains uncertain
The statutory record gives only a broad construction period, and modern postal numbering around the museum differs across sources.
Sources & further reading
- Historic Environment Scotland: J. M. Barrie’s Birthplace, LB36895 — Current designation status, official mapped location, date, fabric and architectural or archaeological interest.
- Trove designation: LB36895 — Parallel national record identity and archival context.
- National Trust for Scotland: J. M. Barrie’s Birthplace — Current museum use, interpretation and visitor offer.
- National Trust for Scotland: planning your visit — Current opening, access and address information.
Location
OS grid reference NO 38714 54045 · Location confidence: High: the current national designation supplies an exact mapped National Grid Reference; public text separately states access and current-use uncertainty. · Select the marker to open its satellite view in Google Maps. On desktop, drag Pegman (the yellow figure) onto a blue road. On mobile, turn on the Street View layer and tap a blue road. Other photo markers may be user-contributed.
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