Archaeology Notes

Event ID 712532

Category Descriptive Accounts

Type Archaeology Notes

Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/event/712532

NT24SE 66 2530 4039.

The Cross Keys Inn or Cleikum Inn, although much altered, appears to have originated in the 17th century, and to this period the main part of the building, an L-shaped block three storeys in height, may be attributed. The W front is partially concealed by a later outshot, behind which a number of old moulded window-jambs still survive. A triangular dormer-pediment, carved with a cinquefoil and bearing the date 1693, has been built into the W wall of the outshot for preservation. In the W wing a first-floor apartment known as the Scott Room retains a late 17th- century stone chimney-piece having a Georgian hob-grate. The building was originally a residence of the Williamsons of Cardrona, and the arrangement of the roof slates to form the initials W W known to have been in existence at least as early as 1836, may refer to Walter Williamson of Cardrona, who died in 1735. The building later became an inn, one of whose proprietors Miss Marion Ritchie, is thought to have been the original of Scott's character Meg Dods of the Cleikum Inn in St Ronan's Well.

Visited 1958

RCAHMS 1967

A watching brief on contractor's groundworks was undertaken on this 17th-century building. Two trenches in the rear garden were observed which indicated that the garden area had been made up and that the building had originally been cut back into the natural slope. Trenches inside the Victorian extension revealed nothing of archaeological interest.

Sponsor: Historic Scotland

R Cachart 1993.