About Us
The Joseph Thomson Local Heritage Centre is run by the the Joseph Thomson Group, a group of member volunteers from Penpont, Keir and Tynron. Originally established as The Joseph Thomson Project Steering Group in September 1998 under the auspices of Penpont Community Council, many volunteers worked hard for many years to make the dream of a Heritage Centre a reality: different members focused on building up archives, doing research on Joseph Thomson's life, securing the building, renovating the building, obtaining funding, keeping enthusiasm alive. On the 29th of April 2014 it finally all came together and the Centre was officially declared open.
The purpose of the Group is to tell the story of Joseph Thomson, Penpont's most famous son who was born in Sundial Cottage and to find a place for archives relating to Joseph and the Thomson family as well as other local heritage resources.
Sundial Cottage belongs to Buccleuch Estates and the Group has negotiated a long lease for the property.
The Joseph Thomson Group was registered as charity No. SC029176 in January 1999.
Currently the committee is made up as follows:
Honorary President: Sophia Harkness
Chair-person: Alison Foggie
Secretary: Alison Lane
Treasurer: Gladys Cuttle
Archivist: Gladys Cuttle
Committee: Margaret Dempster
Linda McDonald Web site manager
Marlene Marshall Email manager
JoAnne McKay Researcher
John McKay
If you would like to make a donation to the group, please click here to contact us. Thank you.