Unearthing Scott’s Creative Process at Abbotsford

Description of impact

Walter Scott’s home at Abbotsford in the Scottish Borders is one of the most significant writer’s houses anywhere in the world, containing both his intact 9,000 book library and his museum collections. Its fabric reflects his artistic understanding of history and material culture, enabling visitors to access an unparalleled insight into the life and work of this author. Professor Lumsden’s scholarly work, including the publication of Scott’s Reliquiae Trotcosienses, has reshaped understanding of Scott’s creative process by drawing new connections between his writing, his home and his collections. Reliquiae Trotcosienses has transformed thinking about Abbotsford, influencing curatorial decisions and visitor information, informing public understanding, contributing to the co-creation of new, open-access learning materials, and supporting economic and social impact in the local area.

Outcomes to Date / Future Developments

Lumsden’s research offers a unique insight into the relationship between the home of Scotland’s most significant novelist, his collections of books and artefacts, and his creative process. Her contribution to the first publication of the Reliquiae Trotcosienses and her editions of Scott’s novels, The Heart of Mid-Lothian in particular, have created a new understanding of Scott’s work, provided new materials that were used to inform the reinterpretation of the Scott museum at Abbotsford, and continue to be used by the curators as a unique reference point at a site of global cultural significance. In turn, this has enabled the museum to deliver benefits to the local area, through both economic and social impact. Lumsden’s research has also informed broader public understanding of Scott’s creative process, not least through the co-creation of a new online course.

Impact status	Impact Completed (Open)
Impact date	2004 → 2021