Ellisland Farm

William Roy's map, circa 1747–55, does not show any form of settlement at Ellisland. However William Crawford's 1804 map of Dumfries-shire marks an 'Elliesland' in the expected location, the farm having been built a few years before, however another building is marked closer to Friars' Carse. The name is said to be derived from "Isle's Land", the name of a neighbouring estate. The river may have been less of a barrier to transport than today and a ford is known to have existed nearby. The nearby Old Dunscore Churchyard is the location of 18th century memorials to the Ireland family of Elliesland (sic). Patrick Miller of Dalswinton wrote of the area in September 1810, saying; "When I…

, 1787]] Patrick Miller of Dalswinton had offered Burns a choice of three farms, two on the rich holms of the River Nith's east side; and one, Ellisland, on the west bank, composed of a fertile strip along the river itself and stony fields between the river and the Dumfries road. Burns visited Ellisland on 27 February 1788 with James Tennant of Glenconner, a friend of himself and his father; taking James's advice he agreed to sign up to the seventy-six-year lease from his friend Patrick Miller of Dalswinton, taking up the lease of the farm at Whitsun (25 May) 1788. The lease was divided up into four periods of nineteen years, the rent for the first three years to be £50 per annum, and £70…

A group from the University of Glasgow would recreate Ellisland Farm in Minecraft in collaboration with the Robert Burns Ellisland Trust and the South of Scotland Destination Alliance with funding from the Tourism Leadership and Recovery Fund.