Saving the Home of Auld Lang Syne
South of Scotland Enterprise (SOSE) has announced that efforts to save the farm where Robert Burns wrote his international anthem Auld Lang Syne have received a significant boost.
SOSE has awarded Robert Burns Ellisland Trust with a £313,210 grant to assist its plans to restore Ellisland Farm, north of Dumfries, and move a step closer to turning the site into a first-class visitor attraction.
SOSE’s support – alongside a £489,207 grant from the National Lottery Heritage Fund in October 2024 – will allow the first phase of the “Saving the Home of Auld Lang Syne” project to be carried out.
This will see completion of the design work for the renovation and adaptation of the historic buildings on the site, as well as three accommodation units.
The funding will also allow the Trust to move towards its long-term vision to showcase Burns in a modern and interactive way and establish Ellisland as a creative destination for artists workshops and residencies.