Canna is the most remote of the Scottish Isles, situated in the west of the Inner Hebrides. It has been under the National Trust of Scotland’s protection since 1981, but in recent years a huge project has begun to restore Canna House.

This is of particular importance considering Canna House is home to a vast collection of research curated by late owners of the house and long-term residents of the Island, John Lorne Campbell and Margaret Fay Shaw Campbell. This significant collection is of international importance, with over 60 years of research.  It contains unique and irreplaceable books, photographs and recordings which are essential in understanding the rich history of the Hebridean isles. The library within Canna House holds all the main scholarly journals for Celtic and Scottish studies, meaning the restoration, organization and preservation of this space is crucial.

Thanks to generous gifts from our American donors, NTSUSA have pledged an incredible $600,000 to go towards this project of immense scale and importance. The mission to restore and preserve Canna House and its extensive archive is well underway, with the goal of opening to the public in Spring 2025 approaching quickly.

So, what are the American donations going towards?

Firstly, the exterior and interior of the house itself were in a bad condition, susceptible to unpredictable weather conditions and putting the collection at risk. Therefore, beginning in 2018, urgent repairs of the house itself began, ensuring that Canna House was wind and watertight.

A few years later in 2021, the Canna Compound was delivered. This provided specialist storage, providing a secure and organized space for the collection to be placed. There are major plans for the archives themselves which will facilitate access for researchers both physically and more so digitally in the future. An important step in the future of the collection, this will mean the archives can reach a wider audience globally, providing further recognition of Scotland’s incredible history.

As far as a current update goes, the construction work is due to be completed in June 2024 and in August 2024, a team of students will work to clean the collection before it is returned safely to Canna House. In only a few months’ time, Canna House is set to open for the public meaning the story of the passions and motivations of the Campbells’ will reach far and wide.  Canna’s breathtaking beauty and history will thrive for generations to come.

Once again, it is thanks to the unbelievable support that our members provide which enables challenging, yet immensely rewarding projects like these to be sustained. Through undertakings like Canna House it becomes clear to see how vital and valued your support and gifts are to NTSUSA.