‘and at his elbow Souter Johnnie his ancient, trusty, drouthy crony’
Tam o’ Shanter’s partner-in-mischief was said to be based on John Davidson, the souter (shoemaker) who lived in this thatched cottage with his family in the late 18th century.
With changing exhibitions of local arts and crafts, this small gallery and gift shop retains the atmosphere of Davidson’s family home and workshop while providing a showcase for local talent.
A thatched outbuilding in the garden houses life-sized sculptures of Tam, Souter Johnnie and Nance Tunnock, much as Robert Burns visualised them - ‘fast by an ingle, bleezing finely’.
