Moat Brae in Dumfries: Peter Pan site creditors could claim £3.5m

Creditors of a trust that operated the mansion that helped inspire the Peter Pan story could seek to claw back more than £3.5m.

The children’s literature centre at Moat Brae in Dumfries closed its doors in August with poor visitor numbers and reduced funding support being blamed.

A liquidators report on the Peter Pan Moat Brae Trust (PPMBT) has found four secured creditors hold standard security over the property.

It said that they could seek to “claw back” grant funding previously advanced which runs to millions of pounds.

Moat Brae, where JM Barrie played as a child, was forced to close in August – about five years after its opening as a visitor centre.

It received backing from a wide range of organisations for its redevelopment.

The report by liquidators Interpath lists the National Heritage Memorial Fund, Creative Scotland, Historic Environment Scotland and Dumfries and Galloway Council as secured creditors who could claim millions of pounds.

However, even if they do so, any amount they received would come from the sale of assets – the biggest of which is Moat Brae itself – minus any costs.

Liquidators said it was not possible to estimate how much they could receive or when they might get it.

They have also listed other smaller creditors including former staff at the site.

It has been estimated that their claims could amount to about £2,100 but they are “unlikely” to receive any dividend.

Similarly a range of unsecured creditors – with potential claims of about £23,000 between them – are “highly unlikely” to see any payout.

They include the likes of energy suppliers, cleaning companies and CCTV maintenance contractors.

Liquidator costs themselves have already run to nearly £50,000.

Meanwhile, the fate of the building itself remains unclear.

It was advertised for sale by Shepherd Chartered Surveyors with a deadline for offers on 3 October.

They have failed to provide any update on the number of bids received or the stage they are at.

However, a number of organisations and individuals have ruled themselves out.

The Crichton Trust said it was “deeply saddened” by the closure but confirmed it had not bid for the property.

A spokesman for Prof David Thomson and Teresa Church – who own and run a number of historic properties in the region – also said they would not make an offer.

Community group The People’s Project said it did not have the funding needed.

South of Scotland Enterprise was also asked if it would be stepping in to save the building.

It said it continued to work with “key partners” to look at how the “significant building” could be used by the community.