This is the weather the cuckoo likes, and so do I
When showers betumble the chestnut spikes, and nestlings fly
And the little brown nightingale bills his best
And they sit outside at "The Travellers Rest"
And maids come forth sprig-muslin drest
And citizens dream of south and west, and so do I

Weathers by Thomas Hardy

The Travellers Rest is a title that has been around for a very long time. It appears in the Valuation Roll of 1841, the tenant listed being a Helen Carswell "Spirit Trader" - one of eight pubs in Neilston at that time.

The Travellers Rest early 1900s

An Ordnance Survey map of 1852 shows a rectangular building with no name, but with a row of houses adjoining. It is certain that these were the "Egg Cup Cottages" demolished several years ago to make for new dwellings. There is no record as to why this name was applied in the 1960's, when the Travellers Rest was demolished and rebuilt, an artist was commissioned to display a three-dimensional mural of the former buildings. This can be viewed in the present dining room. The front entrance faced the road and so the present situation is probably different to the original site.

Of these, cottages 1-3 were owned by a James Sawer, who lived in Towamba, New South Wales. Number 5 was owned by a slater, William Wishart, and 7 and 11 (The Travellers Rest) were owned by the Neilston Charitable Society. There was no number 9. If Helen Carswell lived there as well as running the alehouse, it is likely that the public bar occupied only one room. There would be a counter with a collection of beer and spirits displayed on a shelf behind it with sawdust as a floor covering. Former Church Officer of Neilston Parish Church, John Anderson, recalls seeing a Masonic emblem, the square and compass, cut in stone above the entrance; attempts are in hand to find if this historic piece has been preserved.

The transformation worked on the present hotel - it now has luxury en-suite bedrooms with jacuzzi baths available - is remarkable in the short time since the Jack family bought it in February 2003. Non-stop work has transformed the interior completely. Every effort has been made to provide full facilities for the comfort and convenience of its clients. A spacious Function Suite was also completed in January 2006.

Future intentions are to construct a  conservatory and separate patio area.  An ample car park is now in existence.

Former patrons of sixty years ago would not recognise The Travellers Rest today.