In 1951, Hugh MacDiarmid’s publisher, William MacLellan, introduced the poet to Thomas Tweedie, the owner of Brownsbank Farm. Owing to the graciousness of the Tweedie family, the Grieves resided rent-free at Brownsbank for the entirety of their lives.

Upon their initial move, the cottage lacked both water and electricity. A decade later, actor Alex McCrindle mobilised funds from MacDiarmid’s circle to facilitate the installation of essential utilities, the construction of a lean-to kitchen and bathroom. As it stands today, the cottage retains a wealth of its original artefacts.

MacDiarmid himself once reflected, “This place is a burgeoning shrine to my vanity. Much of its allure stems from Valda’s aptitude for gathering arcane items at jumble sales, not to mention her prowess in carpentry.”

Although the majority of his monumental writing predated their relocation to Brownsbank, numerous works, including ‘In Memoriam James Joyce’ and his ‘Collected Poems’, found publication during his and Valda’s stay.

From Brownsbank, he embarked on numerous worldwide journeys, drawing visitors from all corners of the globe. While his friends, the poets Norman MacCaig, Sorley MacLean, Duncan Glen, the composer Ronald Stevenson, and others constituted a steady stream of guests, he also played host to many visitors from beyond Scotland, including Yevgeny Yevtushenko, composer Alan Bush, and concert pianist John Ogdon.

The original interior was meticulously reinstated to mirror MacDiarmid’s departure, housing myriad portraits and photographs of the man himself, along with a unique assortment of memorabilia.

Distinguished past occupants have encompassed the award-winning author and publisher Matthew Fitt, and James Robertson, the inaugural Scottish Parliament Writer in Residence and the author of the Booker Prize-nominated “The Testament of Gideon Mack”.