A small visitor attraction in the village of Ruthwell in southern Scotland reopened this summer for the first time in five years.

Due to the pandemic and the subsequent plans to transfer the most valuable holdings to Edinburgh, the Savings Bank Museum was in danger of having to close its doors forever.

Instead, the converted cottage telling the story of Rev. Henry Duncan has reopened, and there are plans to expand its offering.

It’s been quite a journey for the building and its longtime manager Mhairi Hastings.

The museum is located on the site of the world’s first savings bank, founded by Duncan as a “penny bank” for community members.

“The bank here opened in 1810 and survived in this space until 1875,” Mhairi said.

“But it was also a Sunday school, a meeting hall, you could rent it for weddings and funerals – it was a social room.

“When the bank finally closed in 1875 – because Ruthwell never had enough residents to support a bank – the building was sealed and once again left empty.”

It was sold to the TSB in the 1950s. In the 1970s, the museum was built there and operated for over 40 years.

However, the last summer it was open was in 2019 – but then it was closed due to the global pandemic.

“When the lockdown came, we of course closed – as did all visitor attractions,” explained Mhairi.

“And then, when we wanted to reopen, the TSB made the decision to stop operating a museum.”

In May 2021, the bank announced plans to close the museum permanently and transfer its contents to Henry Duncan House in Edinburgh.

This sparked a local outcry. A campaign quickly convinced the TSB to announce that it transfer the property to the community.

However, it was only in August last year that it was confirmed that it could reopen after being taken over by the nearby Comlongon Estate.

Estate owners Prof David Thomson and Teresa Church said the museum was one of the most important historical sites in Dumfries and Galloway.

Mhairi said her intervention brought history full circle, as the building originally belonged to the Earl of Mansfield – whose seat was Comlongon – who donated it to the village.

“It was absolutely amazing, especially because it was done for the right reasons,” she said.

“David and Theresa knew about Henry Duncan and the museum and therefore got involved.

“They just love the story and want everyone to know more about Henry Duncan.

“This has ensured that Henry’s name remains alive and that the museum continues to tell and expand his story.”

The site reopened in March and despite a “soft opening,” visitor numbers have returned to pre-Covid levels.

Among the attractions on offer is an ever-growing piggy bank collection that shows how people used to store their savings over the years.

Visitors can also mint their own coin, view an exhibition of banknotes and try to crack a safe.

A printing press – a nod to Duncan’s role in founding local newspapers – also allows them to make their own bookmarks.

Tours usually last 45 minutes, but Mhairi said they have been taking longer as she expands her offerings.

“We need to make it worthwhile for people to go off the beaten path to find the museum,” she said.

“It’s difficult because, as you can see, we’re in the middle of nowhere, but this is where Henry was, so the museum must be here.”

And now they hope that it can stay there for some time.