This typical estate village was built to service nearby Comlongon Castle and to provide accommodation for its employees and their families.

[3] In July 1796, probably suffering from subacute bacterial endocarditis the poet Robert Burns's medical friends Dr William Maxwell and Dr Alexander Brown suggested that he should go to Brow where was prescribed drinking the water of the mineral well, sea bathing, riding and the country air.

John Burney of the inn at Clarencefield was the son-in-law of the landlord at Brow and Burns was advised to make his way to the village to get some port wine that had been prescribed as part of his treatment.

[5] Burns arrived, placed the empty bottle on the counter and ordered the port wine, however he had no money and made to give Burney his personal seal that carried his 'armorial device' that he was so proud of as security until he could pay with coin.

The landlady encouraged her husband to give Burns the medicinal wine without money or pledge.