Part way down the Northgate on the right hand side with a cobbled square in front stands the Cleikum Inn ( or Cross Keys), built in 1693 as a town mansion by Walter Williamson of Cardrona (observe his initials WW outlined in the roof slating).

Later, this inn had strong associations with Sir Walter Scott, the famous Scottish novelist, and its 18th century landlady was the original for Scott's portrait of Meg Dodds in his novel 'St Ronan's Well'

Historical content : taken from the Town Walk