Hotel History
The original 'Frierskerse' was established as a friary back in the 13th century, close to the present-day 'Friars Carse'.
The property became home to the Riddell family and named 'Glenriddell', with Robert Burns, the celebrated Scottish poet, as a regular houseguest.
Robert Burns
Born in Ayrshire and died in Dumfries, Robert Burns only lived for 37 years but during an eventful lifetime he visited many places, knew many people and committed many of his experiences to paper for posterity. Burns left a great impression on the nation and its people with his songs and poems such as 'Auld lang Sang' and 'Tam o'Shanter'.
Friars Carse has close associations with Robert Burns as it was here in the Whistle Restaurant, where the famous drinking competition was held with Fergusson of Craigdarroch, the outright winner and put into verse by Rabbie. It was also at the Burns Hermitage (located in the grounds of Friars Carse) where he would sometime sleep and wrote his inscription to the then owner of Friars Carse "To the Memory of Robert Riddell" on the hermitage window with his diamond stencil (can now be seen at Ellisland Farm Museum)
Just a short walk from the hermitage along the river Nith lays Ellisland Farm where Burns wrote many of his most famous poems and songs including Auld lang Syne and Tam o'Shanter.
Useful Links
Ellisland Farm provides a wonderful insight into Robert Burn's life on a farm two hundred years ago. Guided tours of the farmhouse and museum are available. You can see Rabbie's original writings, possessions and stroll along Burns' walk beside the river.
The property passed through many hands before becoming home to Dr James Crichton (better known as the Admirable Crichton') in 1809. Remodelled in 1873, the house was once more named 'Friars Carse' in 1895, and established as a hotel in 1938.