The Sheep's Heid

Still in Duddingston.

This is reputed to be the oldest pub in Scotland, an inn having stood here since 1360.

Nearby is the picturesque twelfth century church of Duddingston, and one thing we can be sure of in Scotland is where there were places of worship there was always an enterprising innkeeper offering the faithful nourishment for the soul of a slightly less ecclesiastical nature!

Mary Queen of Scots made it a stop off point on her regular jaunts between the royal palaces of Craigmillar and Holyrood. This royal patronage was continued by her son James VI whom tradition records presented the innkeeper with a richly embellished ram's head snuff box in thanks for the good times had playing skittles in the yard at Duddingston.

There is also a story about Tam Neill - the village undertaker - who lived from 1730-1800. It is something about the irate woman who ran the pub, a coffin, and a wastrel looking for drink. But I will need to track down the details.