Black Bull Hotel

Black Bull Hotel, Churchgate, Moffat
©2022 Gazetteer for Scotland

Black Bull Hotel, Churchgate, Moffat

An old coaching inn in Moffat, the Black Bull Hotel lies opposite St. Andrews Parish Church in Moffat (Dumfries and Galloway). The 12-room hotel was established in 1568. Between 1683-85 it became the headquarters of John Graham of Claverhouse (1649-89) in his relentless pursuit of the Covenanters. Later is was regularly visited by the poet Robert Burns (1759-96), who scratched the Epigram to a Scrimpit Nature on one of the windows when Miss Deborah Davies, a beautiful but petite lady much admired by Burns, rode past along with her portly companion:

Ask why God made the Gem so small
and why so huge the Granite?
Because God meant mankind to set the higher value on it.

The original window was lost, possibly given as a present to the Tsar of Russia, but a replacement was unveiled in 1996.

The associated Railway Bar dates from the time when the Caledonian Railway passed through Moffat.


Use the tabs on the right of this page to see other parts of this entry arrow

If you have found this information useful please consider making
a donation to help maintain and improve this resource. More info...

By using our site you agree to accept cookies, which help us serve you better