Taking a stroll to the end of the street might be just the thing so you can get some fresh air and get the blood flowing. If you happen to be staying at the Mackay’s Hotel, your stroll to the end of the street won’t take a lot of time. It is just two steps.
The address for the Mackay’s Hotel is 1 Ebenezer Place, in Wick, Scotland. The “1” isn’t really necessary. It is the only address on the street. Ebenezer Place has the distinction of being the world’s shortest street.
Measuring 2.06 meters (6 feet, 9 inches) from beginning to end, Ebenezer Place was built in 1883. It was officially declared a street in 1887. Most of the automobiles being driven would not fit completely within the length of the street. In 2006, the Guinness Book of Records recognized it as the shortest street in the world.
The hotel’s website provides the history of the establishment and the short street that runs in front of it. Alexander Sinclair built the hotel in 1883. The hotel has entrances on Union Street and River Street. Even so, the city council instructed him to put a name on the short end of the building because they deemed the roadway at that point to be a separate street. Thus Ebenezer Place was born. The Ebenezer Place entrance leads to No. 1 Bistro, which is part of the hotel.
The location makes an appearance in Robert Louis Stevenson’s 1883 novel Treasure Island. The mention of “5 Hand Way” refers to Union Street, River Street, Bridge Street, Station Road, and The Cliff. The hotel is situated at the intersection of Union Street and River Street. Ebenezer Place was brand new when Treasure Island was published, but that’s where the hotel sits.
By all accounts, the accommodations at Mackay’s Hotel are quite nice. If you are interested in seeing Ebenezer Place, you might as well reserve a room at the hotel. It will give you a place to rest up after your long walk down the world’s shortest street.
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