The facade of the County hotel conceals an older interior with a thick walled barrel-vaulted room, or 'bastel house' ( from the French 'bastille' ) and was formerly a refuge and strongly built for defence. At least six such bastel houses survived in Peebles in 1870. In stage-coaching days this hostelry was known as the Harrow Inn, and was the point of departure for the coach to Edinburgh. 

Historical content : taken from the Town Walk