Crook Inn facts for kids
The Crook Inn is a very old and famous inn (like a hotel and restaurant) located in the beautiful Scottish Borders. It's near a village called Tweedsmuir, on the A701 road. Many people say it's the oldest inn in all of Scotland! It first got its license way back in 1604. A famous Scottish poet, Robert Burns, even wrote a poem called "Willie Wastle's Wife" while he was staying there. For a long time, it was a busy stop for coaches and even had a Post Office. It also provided jobs for people nearby.
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The Crook Inn: A Historic Scottish Spot
A Long History and Famous Visitors
The Crook Inn has been around for a very long time, since 1604! Imagine all the stories it could tell. It used to be a busy place where horse-drawn coaches would stop for travelers to rest. Later, in the early 1900s, a special train stop was built nearby for the Talla Railway. This railway was used to help build the Talla Reservoir, and many workers building the reservoir would visit the inn.
In 1936, the inn got a modern makeover in the Art Deco style, which was very popular then. It still has many of those cool design features today.
A Special Place for Families
Over the years, The Crook Inn also became a special meeting place for the Porteous family. Their old family home, Hawkshaw, was on the hills above Tweeddale. Every five years, the Porteous family would have a big reunion at the inn, with people traveling from all over the world to attend.
Saving the Inn: A Community Effort
In 2008, there were plans to change the historic inn into apartments. Many local people were against this idea because they wanted the inn to stay open. The local council agreed with the community and said "no" to the plans. The owner tried to appeal this decision, but in February 2009, the appeal was officially turned down. This meant the inn could still be bought and reopened.
The community of Tweedsmuir really wanted to save The Crook Inn. After a long campaign, the Tweedsmuir Community Company managed to raise £160,000 and bought the property in January 2013! They received a grant in 2014 to help redesign and fix up the old inn. Their plans were approved in 2015. More land around the inn was also bought with help from different funds. The community hopes to turn The Crook Inn into a "Community Hub" that will serve both local people and tourists.
What's Next for The Crook Inn?
Even though the community bought the inn, the building has continued to get older and needs a lot of work. It is currently listed on the Buildings at Risk Register for Scotland, which means it's a historic building that needs urgent attention to prevent it from falling apart. The community is still working hard to find the money and resources needed to bring this historic inn back to life.
