Dunscore Heritage Centre

An impressive example of the Heritors’ Gothic style, the church is in a prominent position in the Dunscore village around seven miles from Dumfries in the beautiful Cairn Valley.

Newly opened this year, the Heritage Centre houses a touch-screen interactive display, photos and articles about the church and village history as well as local lass Jane Haining. You can take the short Memory Trail round the village and find out where Robert Burns opened a library for the local people and see one of the last hearse houses in Scotland.

There is a fascinating self-guided tour of the church including the architectural features, font from the original church, carved stone from the 1649 church all in a recently refurbished building. Alternatively, earn a Dunscore Detective sticker by completing the children’s tour.

Keep some time to find out about local Hero of the Holocaust, Jane Haining who was born in Dunscore and worked as a matron in a school for girls in Budapest before and during the second world war. Having refused to leave her charges (some of whom were Jews), she was taken to Auschwitz where she died. You can see films and information about her life, her Hero of the Holocaust medal and some of her possessions.

On Saturday 1 September at 2:00 pm, there will be a talk in the church about our local Hero of the Holocaust, Jane Haining.

On Sunday 2 September at 2:00 pm, there will be a guided walk round the village Memory Trail including the site of the library started by Robert Burns, the Hearse House and the Auschwitz Oak.