The repairs to the Robert Burns cottage in Alloway are due to begin in the next couple of months. The iconic cottage, built by William Burness in 1757, and where his son the poet Robert Burns was born in 1759, has been increasingly troubled with signs of decay in recent times. Cracks in the walls and gable ends, as well as rotting thatch in the roof, have become a cause for concern, but the National Trust for Scotland launched an appeal for funds in January which has now reached over £100,000. Notable contributors include the Alloway Burns Club and Friends of the Robert Burns Birthplace Museum.