J.M. Barrie's house: The unassuming Nottingham house where Peter Pan was (probably) born

Here at Nottingham World we love nothing more than shedding light on the city’s hidden history. 

From Sherwood to Sneinton, Wollaton to Woodthorpe, each corner of the city holds secrets just waiting to be uncovered and shared. 

We all know about the city’s main historic sites, such as the National Justice Museum and Nottingham Castle, but often the most intriguing spots are hidden in plain sight. 

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You may or may not be aware of a road off Peel Street (near the Arboretum) called Birkland Avenue. 

The road, an identical replica of neighbouring Clipstone Avenue, is flanked by terraced houses typical of this part of the city. 

If you’ve ever entered Birkland Avenue from Peel Street and looked immediately left, you may have noticed a house with a grey plaque next to the front door. 

The house in question is 5 Birkland Avenue. 

At first glance, the house may appear no more or less interesting than any of the others in Birkland Avenue, but the few words on the grey plaque leave passers-by in no doubt of its historical significance. 

It reads: “J.M. Barrie, author of Peter Pan, lived here 1883-84.”

A stone’s throw from the nearby Arboretum, the house was occupied by Barrie during his time working for the Nottingham Daily Journal. 

As the story goes, Barrie’s route to work took him through the Arboretum, where he was struck by the park’s natural beauty. 

With its pond, exotic plants and hundreds of trees, it’s said the Arboretum provided J.M. Barrie with the inspiration for Neverland - the fictional home of Peter Pan, Captain Hook and Tinker Bell.

Barrie’s daily commute would have taken him past the Arboretum’s pond, which could well have influenced Neverland’s Mermaid Lagoon. 

The author called time on his life in Nottingham in 1884 and returned to his native Scotland. 

The character of Peter Pan first appeared in a novel called The Little White Bird, written by Barrie and published in 1902. 

It wasn’t until 1904 that Peter Pan as we know him was introduced to the world in a play called Peter Pan; the Boy Who Wouldn’t Grow Up. 

The play, written by Barrie, was the first time Neverland, Tinker Bell and Captain Hook were shared with audiences. 

So, next time you’re passing 5 Birkland Avenue, keep in the back of your mind that one of the most well-known fictional characters of all time may well have been created there.