Crook Inn, hotel
The Crook Inn is a hotel in the Scottish Borders that has stood in the same location since 1604, making it one of Scotland's oldest inns. The building was redesigned in Victorian style in 1835 and then again in the 1930s with Art Deco elements such as curved windows, a flat roof, and decorative tile work in the bathrooms.
The inn was founded in 1604 when new Scottish laws controlled the number of drinking places, serving travelers and local people for over 400 years. In 1688, church services were temporarily held inside after the local minister was removed by the congregation.
The Crook Inn served for centuries as a gathering place for writers, mountaineers, and travelers who came to talk and share meals. Its Victorian and later Art Deco design with curved windows and front balcony still shapes the village appearance and represents the location's importance to local identity.
The building sits beside the A701 in a quiet area of the Scottish Borders and is easily accessible, though visitors should know the property is currently undergoing restoration by a local community group. The surrounding area is sparsely populated and rural in character, making the journey part of the experience.
Poet Robert Burns wrote the poem 'Willie Wastle's Wife' in the inn's kitchen in 1790, capturing a moment of everyday life at the location. This literary connection shows how the Crook Inn attracted writers and inspired their work.
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