September 2 2021

Scottish Borders Council is bidding to improve the setting of Selkirk's A-listed Old Sheriff Court through the demolition of an historic inn within the towns conservation area.

The architects section of the local authority has been moved to act owing to the deteriorating structural condition of the unlisted building, as well as an attached residential property to the rear, after surveys suggested that the capital cost of repair was excessive.

In a statement the council wrote: "The building was purchased by Scottish Borders Council approximately 10 years ago to provide security for the overall streetscape and to prevent undesirable development in such a prominent town centre location.

"It is proposed to take down the former Cross Keys Inn and attached residential property to the rear.

"Urban landscaping works will then be progressed to tie in with the recently completed townscape works, leaving a temporary space that looks and feels finished, while not preventing possible future improvement works to either the space or to the Sir Walter Scott Courtroom Museum."

Matching Scoutsmoor sandstone paving will be used to landscape the resulting gap site with the exposed gable finished in wetdash render and limewash to stonework.

1 Comment

#1 Posted by Steve on 2 Sep 2021 at 19:57 PM

'deteriorating structural condition of the unlisted building' owned by council for ten years means building to be demolished ... on orders of the the council. I bet Scott spent more time in the Cross Keys than in the Sheriff Court.

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