Join

Broughton House & Garden teacher information

Broughton House was the home of renowned Scottish artist E A Hornel, a member of the ‘Glasgow Boys’ group of artists. Between 1901 and 1933, Hornel extended the house and added an art gallery and studio.

As well as a major collection of Hornel’s works, the house contains artworks by several other artists contemporary to Hornel, plus an important collection of Scottish books, including many works by Robert Burns.

Broughton House was a home as well as an art gallery. Hornel and his sister planned the lovely garden which leads down to the Dee Estuary. In the garden, you can see a combination of Japanese influences with other hidden treasures; it has a very special atmosphere and is much loved by visitors.

The schools programme at Broughton House complements the Curriculum for Excellence. Teachers can use the visit to develop interdisciplinary work. A class visit includes a guided tour of the house and the artist’s studio and gallery. Both primary and secondary pupils are welcome.

Possible topics

  • Expressive Arts projects, especially for senior-phase secondary school pupils
  • Wildlife and conservation work

Resources for schools

  • Interpretive panels within the house
  • Subtitled DVD on Hornel’s life and work
  • Written interpretation in the garden
  • House Detective quiz and Garden quiz – please let us know how many copies you would like in advance.
  • Wee Guide, for children, with illustrations and facts about Hornel’s life (cost £1)
  • There is a small education room which can be used by up to 8 primary or 6 secondary pupils (at one time) for learning activities or special workshops.

Planning your class visit

  • To book: please contact Broughton House for a booking form.
  • Book well in advance to avoid disappointment.
  • Maximum class size: 24, with a ratio of 1 teacher/adult to 8 pupils
  • Access: we regret that there is limited access to this historic house. There is an entrance with level access to the lower ground floor in Castledykes Lane at the side of the house. A lift is available between the lower ground floor and ground floor (street level). The first floor is not accessible by lift. The garden can be entered on level ground but not all the paths within the garden are accessible for visitors with mobility impairment. Please contact us to discuss your requirements in more detail.
  • Parking: there is no coach parking adjacent to Broughton House but coaches can usually stop outside to allow pupils to disembark or alight. There are coach-parking areas along the main road in the town. Smaller vehicles (minibuses, small coaches) may park in the main harbour square.
  • Toilets: there are two toilets on the lower ground floor; one is accessible.
  • Refreshments: there are areas within Kirkcudbright where pupils can eat packed lunches. We can provide further advice if required.
  • The site has been risk assessed. Teachers are expected to prepare their own risk assessment for the visit.

Charges

  • For the latest charges, please contact the property.
  • Class teachers are encouraged to make a free preparatory visit to the site.

During your class visit

  • On arrival: please report to the reception desk.
  • Trust staff will lead the school programme.
  • Our Head Gardener or Assistant Gardener will guide groups around the garden.
  • We are open for educational visits from 1 September–15 May each school year. School programmes begin at 10am.
  • The duration of a programme can vary, depending on class size.
  • Your class may be split into groups. Each group should have a teacher/adult helper, with disclosure permissions where required. Please check the number of groups when booking.
  • Pupils do not need to bring any materials for the school programme.
  • Teachers are responsible for their pupils and their behaviour.
  • Pupils may take photographs – please do not use flash photography within the building.
  • Coats can be left on a coat rail on the lower ground floor, and bags should be left at reception on admission (no valuables should be left in coats if the property is open to the public at the time of the visit).
Download

If you prefer to print this information you can use this download. Please note that some of the information may now be out of date.