East Ayrshire Leisure - The Guide May-Aug 2016 Jan Feb March April 2017 | Page 22

M U S E U M S | BU R N S H O US E M U S E U M S | DOO N VAL L E Y Doon Valley Museum will close permanently on 28th January 2017. On 2nd November 2016, East Ayrshire Council agreed to the Community Asset Transfer of the Doon Valley Museum building to the Dalmellington Community Action Group. Robert Burns, Scotland’s National Bard, lived in Mauchline in what was arguably his most creative and productive period. It was at his farm, Mossgiel, close to the town, that he composed many of his best-loved poems.  Whilst making his new farm ready, Burns and his wife Jean Armour lodged in a room in what is now Burns House Museum. Using original manuscripts, objects and other publications we interpret Burns’ time in the town and his relations with many of its characters. FR E E E NTRY Mauchline community library is now also housed within Burns House Museum. BURNS HOUSE MUSEUM & LIBRARY CASTLE STREET, MAUCHLINE, KA5 5BZ T: 01290 550045 TUE : 10.30AM-1.40PM & 2PM-6PM WED: 10.30AM-1.40PM & 2PM-6PM THU: 1.30PM-4.40PM & 5PM-8PM FRI & SAT: 10.30AM-4PM CLOSED 2 & 3 JAN, 14 & 15 APRIL Burns’s Birthday in Mauchline SAT 28 & SUN 29 JAN 12 NOON-4PM · FREE BURNS HOUSE MUSEUM & LIBRARY Burns’s Birthday in Mauchline welcomes residents of Ayrshire, and visitors to the region to embrace all aspects of traditional and contemporary arts, by offering opportunities for involvement in a celebration of Burns, with particular reference to Mauchline. Burns’s Birthday in Mauchline is a two day programme of FREE events including poetry, music and visual art, for all the family to enjoy and take part in. © Timorous Beasties for East Ayrshire Council 2009 Access is limited to some areas of the museum. 22 futuremuseum.co.uk The Doon Valley Museum is housed in a short terrace of converted cottages dating from 1788. Dalmellington was a quiet rural parish until the 1840s, when it was transformed by the creation of the Dalmellington Iron Company. The impact on the social, economic and natural histories of the area is reflected in the museum displays and artefacts from this period including mining equipment and a few surviving relics of the iron works. In addition, a large collection of photographs, maps and documents are available to family historians and other researchers within the Research Lab. DOON VALLEY MUSEUM DALMELLINGTON KA6 7QY T: 01292 550633 THU: 12.30-4.40PM 5PM-8PM FRI: 10AM-4PM SAT: 10AM-4PM CLOSED 2, 3 JANUARY In order to facilitate this transfer prior to 31st March 2017, the museum will cease to be operated by East Ayrshire Leisure from 28th January 2017. The building will close to enable the collections and cases to be redisplay/stored at the Baird Institute in Cumnock. A small display area will also be created at Patna Library allowing visitors to view collections from the local area. It is envisaged that the building will then be re-opened by Dalmellington Community Action Group who propose to operate a Community-Led Dalmellington Heritage and Visitors Centre. Further details about this Community Asset Transfer can be obtained from Emma Waugh, Vibrant Communities 01292 552968 or email: [email protected] Collections can be viewed online at: futuremuseum.co.uk. Collections can also be viewed by appoinment. Please contact Jason Sutcliffe, Team Leader Collection Care on 01563 554345 or email: [email protected] Doon Valley Museum is a fully accessible venue eastayrshireleisure.com 23