Bachelor's Club

During the time of Robert Burns, this seventeenth century building contained an alehouse, dwelling house and a meeting room. On 11 November in 1780, Robert Burns, his brother Gilbert and five friends set up a debating society in the meeting room here. They named this society The Bachelor's Club and the aims were to 'forget their cares and labour in mirth and diversion, to promote friendship, and to improve their minds with meaningful debate'. They met every fourth Monday in the evening and elected a new president at every meeting. Robert Burns was the first president of the society, when he was living at Lochlea Farm (Tarbolton) with his family. He moved in to Mossgiel near Mauchline in 1784 after his father died.

During the early 1800s the old meeting hall was changed into dwellings, occupied until 1928. After this the property was empty but was cared for by the villagers until 1938 which was when the National Trust for Scotland bought the building. The NTS restored the house and it now contains a lot of Burns' memorabilia. It also hosts a special Burns Night celebration every year.

All age groups are welcome at the cottage but visits should be organised in consultation with the Property Manager. Please contact on 01292 542940.

Should you wish to bring an educational group to an NTS property it is essential that you contact the Property Manager in advance to make arrangements.

Click here to download a printable booking form (PDF format).

Click here to download a printable Property Information Sheett giving details on the educational potential of the property (PDF format).

Should you require a free visit to help plan excursion, please contact the Property Manager in advance.

To view and print the forms, you need Adobe Acrobat Reader. If you don't have it you may download it here.