Backhouse Heritage & Education Centre
BRING HISTORY TO LIFE
CURRENTLY UNDER RE-DEVELOPMENT – CLOSED FOR AUGUST & SEPTEMBER 2026
A unique collection of Family ephemera
Work is ongoing at the Backhouse Rossie Heritage and Education Centre, which is currently in the OSCR process. Visitors are invited to explore the fascinating and unfolding story of the Backhouse family, a remarkable lineage of Quaker botanists and bankers who have left a lasting impact on the heritage and culture of Rossie Estate.
The charity’s mission is to advance education by offering learning, training, and volunteering opportunities focused on the rich history, culture, and environment of Rossie Estate in Collessie, Fife, and the Backhouse family legacy. Our goal is to improve the quality of life for the public by providing accessible and affordable opportunities for all members of the community in Fife to engage in cultural and educational activities while gaining access to our heritage facilities.
We are committed to offering these opportunities for the benefit of the public, ensuring everyone can connect with and learn from the story of the Backhouse family and the history of Rossie Estate.
About Backhouse Rossie Heritage and Education Centre
In 2005, Caroline and Andrew Thomson established the Backhouse Rossie Heritage and Education Centre at Rossie Estate in Fife, with the aim of preserving and nurturing their family’s rich horticultural history and the related ephemera in a focused, curated collection.
The Centre has become a valuable resource, cited in PhD theses, academic articles, books, and used by TV programme makers and photographers in their work. It is also forging connections with other heritage-based organisations, further expanding its impact and collaborative efforts.
We are proud to be a hub of learning and heritage, dedicated to preserving the legacy of the Backhouse family and its contributions to horticulture and culture.
Culture
The charity is dedicated to promoting cultural activities through exhibitions and collaborations with professionals across various disciplines. We encourage cultural partnerships that complement the core interests of horticulture, plants, gardening, ecology, and the environment. These partnerships help enrich the cultural landscape while furthering the educational goals of the Backhouse Rossie Heritage and Education Centre.
The Centre
The Backhouse Rossie Heritage & Education Centre houses a heritage display area, showcasing the significant contributions of the Backhouse family, renowned Quaker botanists who revolutionized daffodil hybridisation worldwide from the mid-1800s to the mid-1900s. Their groundbreaking work created never-before-seen daffodil varieties, the ancestors of which can still be found in gardens and parks today. The original cultivars are preserved in the National Collection of Narcissus Backhouse cultivars at Rossie Estate.
The Backhouse Nursery also produced a purple sprouting broccoli, famously noted in Charles Darwin’s research notes from 1877, where he documented his experiments with drip tests and susceptibility to insect bites.
Education
The Centre offers a unique environment for participatory learning focused on the heritage, culture, and environment of Rossie Estate. We provide training, volunteering opportunities, and educational programmes for organisations, charities, and individuals. Our offerings include a variety of inclusive classes, masterclasses, workshops, and practical demonstrations tailored for all levels and abilities.
We also host talks by visiting experts and our own qualified, interdisciplinary team, all of whom have a long-standing relationship with the garden, plants, and grounds at Rossie Estate.
Reference Library
The Reference Library serves as a hub for events and residential groups, fostering partnerships that enhance the core interests of the charity. The Library is supported by a rich collection of materials from key partners, including the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh Archive Library, former UK Daffodil Society Chairman, academics from institutions such as Royal Botanic Gardens Kew and Askham Bryan College York, and numerous horticulturists and members of the public who have generously donated materials.
Our Reference Library is continually developing, with the support of bursaries from Plant Heritage, ensuring it remains a valuable resource for research and education.
Through these efforts, the Backhouse Rossie Heritage & Education Centre continues to serve as a vital institution for learning, cultural enrichment, and the preservation of horticultural history.
