A crucial part of Harley-Davidson’s heritage – in Scotland – is in danger of being demolished unless funds can be urgently raised to save it. It’s well known that the Davidson family originally hailed from Scotland – Sandy and Margaret Davidson, along with thousands of others, emigrated to America in 1857, and it was their grandson William A. Davidson who would co-found the iconic brand with Bill Harley in 1903 – Harley’s parents were English, having emigrated from Littleport, Cambridgeshire.

But now the Davidson’s cottage in Netherton, Angus is facing demolition, and a campaign to save it has been set up by the Davidson Legacy Preservation Group (DLC), which is seeking to buy the cottage and preserve it as part of the Harley Davidson story. The DLC has secured a £250,000 grant from the Government’s Community Ownership Fund, but needs another £70,000 to complete the project. But time is running out, as the Government funds need to be used before the end of 2024, or the offer will be withdrawn. DLC has set up a GoFundMe page in a bid to raise the £70,000 by December 2024.

If funding can be secured, the plan is to add workshops and an on-site café, to encourage visitors to the site.

The GoFundMe page is here

Jim Freeman, Chair of the British Motorcyclists Federation (BMF) was in full support of the efforts to save the cottage: “To bulldoze this iconic part of Harley-Davidson’s history to reportedly make way for a modern housing development would be an absolute crime. The BMF fully supports the plans of the Davidson Legacy Preservation Group to work towards community ownership of the cottage and the establishment of a visitors’ centre celebrating not only the history of Harley Davidson’s origins, but also an important part of Scottish history, culture and heritage.”

Written by Peter Henshaw

Top image courtesy of Davidson Legacy Preservation Group