Pub adored by Robert Burns gets major makeover

THE decaying facade of an historic inn made famous by Scottish bard Robert Burns is to be restored to its former glory.

Work on the Whigham’s Inn – a prominent but long-derelict building on the High Street of Sanquhar in Dumfries and Galloway – is due to start this week.

Layers of paint, which are trapping moisture and damaging the building, will be removed using an innovative dry ice blasting process to reveal the original sandstone.

It is planned for this initial phase of restoration, to be carried out by Annan-based Dry Ice by Eco, will be the start of a much wider multi-million-pound revamp of the building.

Ronnie Bradford is the Community Development Officer with the Sanquhar Enterprise Company (SEC) which bought the building in June 2025.

He said: “Whigham’s Inn has huge historical and cultural significance for Sanquhar, but for many years it has also been a visible reminder of how vulnerable heritage buildings can become if they are left without a sustainable future.

“Starting work on the facade is a major step. It demonstrates progress on the ground and shows the community that this building is finally on a path towards restoration and reuse.”

Whigham’s Inn is one of the town’s most historically important buildings, with strong links to Robert Burns through his friendship with former owner Edward Whigham. The Inn provided Burns with accommodation during his travels between Ayrshire and Dumfriesshire, at a time when Sanquhar was a key stop on historic coaching routes.

Despite its prominence on the High Street, the building fell into decline during the late 20th century, passing through a number of speculative owners and standing largely unused for nearly 40 years. 

Its deteriorating condition eventually led to it being identified as a priority site within the Royal Burgh of Sanquhar and District Community Action Plan, paving the way for its purchase by SEC, with the assistance and support of both The Royal Burgh of Sanquhar Community Council and the Upper Nithsdale Community Trust, and the start of long-term restoration planning.

The facade works mark the first visible phase of a wider multi‑million‑pound redevelopment project, which aims to bring the building back into active use while respecting its historic character. 

Plans include a mix of self‑contained apartments within the main structure, alongside office space, and a small bunkhouse facility to maintain the building’s historic connection with travellers and accommodation.

Alongside the physical redevelopment, proposals are also being developed to interpret the inn’s literary and cultural heritage. 

These include the potential use of digital and virtual reality technology to bring the building’s history to life and explore its connections to Robert Burns and the wider story of Sanquhar, within a limited footprint.

The initial cleaning and conservation work will be carried out using a dry ice blasting process, which allows surface coatings to be removed without the use of water or abrasive materials. 

The technique is particularly well suited to historic stone buildings, as it avoids saturation of the stonework and reduces the risk of further damage.

The work will be undertaken by specialist contractors Eco Dry Ice, who have experience using the technique on sensitive heritage projects across the UK.

Steven McCreadie, Head of Dry Ice by Eco, said: “Being part of the restoration of Whigham’s Inn is a real privilege. 

“It’s especially rewarding to work on such a historic building that means so much to the community, helping bring it back to life using our innovative dry ice cleaning technology.

“Our role is to thoughtfully remove modern coatings that are causing harm to the stone, while protecting as much of the original material as possible. 

“Using dry ice cleaning, we’re able to work in a gentle and controlled way, revealing the natural sandstone beneath without introducing moisture or harsh abrasion. 

“This is about helping the building breathe once more and supporting its longevity for generations to come.”