National Museum of Costume

National Museums Scotland has announced that the National Museum of Costume at Shambellie House, near New Abbey, Dumfries is to close.

As a consequence of the economic recession, National Museums Scotland, like many organisations in the public sector across the UK, has seen a reduction in available public funding.

The very low numbers of visitors to the National Museum of Costume along with high operational costs is no longer sustainable. In addition, the domestic layout of Shambellie House places limitations on it being used effectively as a national museum.

The decision to close the site has been taken following full consideration of a range of options for savings across all National Museums activity as well as comments received directly from the public and at meetings with stakeholders in Dumfries and Galloway. The site will not reopen for 2013.