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Broughton House was built in 1732 in the
centre of Kirkcudbright town, on the High
Street, just round from the rear of MacLellan's Castle.
Broughton House History
1732 - the building was completed as two
town houses, numbers 10 and 12 High Street.
1740 - both houses were bought by the
Provest of Kirkcudbright, Alexander Murray, so
he could convert them into one large house.
1756 - Murray sold the house to the first of
a number of owners, including the 5th Earl of
Selkirk.
1901 - the artist E. A. Hornel bought the
house for £650. Hornel was an artist associated
with the Glasgow Boys.
He had spent a year painting in Japan, where he
produced around 30 paintings.
These paintings were exhibited in Glasgow in
1895, with money made from the paintings going
towards the purchase of Broughton House.
Hornel lived in the house with his sister
Tizzy, having the gardens remolded with a
Japanese influence.
1910 - Hornel had his friend the Glasgow
architect John Keppie add a gallery to the
house.
1933 - Hornel died leaving his sister with
the house, his paintings, and book
collection.
1950 - Tizzy died, leading to the property
being taken over by the National Trust for
Scotland to serve as a museum.
Hornel's will stated he wanted the house to
be preserved as a public art gallery for the
people of the area and visitors.
The house contains period furniture, art by
Hornel and others, 15,000 books collected by
Hornel, news paper cuttings and letters.
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