The John Buchan Story

The John Buchan Story is a small museum in Peebles, in the Scottish Borders, devoted to the life and work of John Buchan: novelist, politician, historian and soldier. It occupies the ground floor of the Chambers Institution on the High Street, right in the town centre. Admission is free, and the museum is run by volunteers.

Who was John Buchan?

John Buchan wrote adventure and spy fiction and is best remembered for "The Thirty-Nine Steps", a novel that helped shape the spy thriller as a genre. Beyond writing, he had a distinguished public career: he served as a Member of Parliament and later as Governor General of Canada. During the First World War he worked in intelligence, heading information and propaganda efforts. His family had strong ties to Peebles, which makes the town a natural home for a museum about him.

What can you see inside?

The displays cover Buchan's life, his family connections with Peebles and his writing. It is an intimate museum. The space is compact, but the presentation is focused and professional. A visit is short, so it pairs easily with a stroll around the town. It suits fans of classic adventure fiction as well as anyone curious about this many-sided Scot.

History of the museum

The museum began as the John Buchan Centre in Broughton, which opened in 1983. Because of the cost of maintaining that building, the centre closed in 2011. The collection moved to Peebles the following year. The new museum was opened on 3 November 2012 by Gordon Campbell, then High Commissioner of Canada, a fitting guest given Buchan's role as the Crown's representative there. The £300,000 needed to open the new venue was raised through fundraising. The John Buchan Heritage Museum Trust manages the museum.

The Chambers Institution building

The Chambers Institution is a historic building in central Peebles, presented to the townspeople in 1859 for their "social, moral and intellectual improvement". Today it houses several cultural attractions. The Tweeddale Museum & Gallery is in the same building, so one visit gives you two different exhibitions.

Frequently asked questions

Is The John Buchan Story free to enter?

Yes, admission is free.

Where is the museum?

On the ground floor of the Chambers Institution on the High Street in Peebles, in the Scottish Borders, Scotland.

Who runs the museum?

It is managed by the John Buchan Heritage Museum Trust and staffed entirely by volunteers.

Is it open all year?

Opening hours can be seasonal, and the museum may close during the winter months. Current times are on the museum's website, johnbuchanstory.co.uk.

How long does a visit take?

The exhibition is small, so about an hour is usually enough, and less if you are in a hurry.

Who is it for?

Readers of adventure and spy fiction, anyone interested in Scottish and Canadian history, and anyone looking for a free attraction in the centre of Peebles.