John Buchan Story


(John Buchan Centre)

Located on the ground floor of the Chambers Institution on the High Street in Peebles in the Scottish Borders, co-located with the Tweeddale Museum & Gallery, the John Buchan Story celebrates the life and works of this great Scot. Buchan was not only a noted author, with works including The 39 Steps (1915) and Greenmantle (1916), but was also a successful politician, historian, soldier, lawyer, poet, biographer and statesman, who became Head of Intelligence during the First World War and then Governor General of Canada in 1935. Managed by the John Buchan Heritage Museum Trust and staffed entirely by volunteers, the Centre explores Buchan's life, work and legacy, together with his links to Peebles. The museum holds pictures, books, papers and personal items belonging to Buchan and members of his immediate family. Buchan's sister Anna (1877 - 1948), herself an accomplished authoress, lived in the town, while his brother Walter (1882 - 1954) was Town Clerk and a noted local solicitor and historian.

Established by local volunteers in conjunction with the Biggar Museum Trust in 1983 and known as the John Buchan Centre, the museum was initially located in the former United Free Church in the village of Broughton, 11 miles (18 km) to the southwest, where Buchan's father had been the minister. Owing to concerns over the costs of maintaining building, this closed in 2011 and moved to its current venue in Peebles the following year. This new museum was opened on 3rd November 2012 by Gordon Campbell, High Commissioner of Canada, and was viewed by HM Queen Elizabeth II on 3rd July 2013, during her visit to Peebles.


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