History in Structure

Livestock Ring, Auction Mart, Newton St Boswells

A Category B Listed Building in Melrose, Scottish Borders

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Coordinates

Latitude: 55.5772 / 55°34'38"N

Longitude: -2.6709 / 2°40'15"W

OS Eastings: 357799

OS Northings: 631713

OS Grid: NT577317

Mapcode National: GBR 93SY.KJ

Mapcode Global: WH7WX.Y2BR

Plus Code: 9C7VH8GH+VJ

Entry Name: Livestock Ring, Auction Mart, Newton St Boswells

Listing Name: Newton St Boswells, Auction Mart, Livestock Ring

Listing Date: 22 July 2010

Category: B

Source: Historic Scotland

Source ID: 400470

Historic Scotland Designation Reference: LB51565

Building Class: Cultural

Also known as: Newton St Boswells, Auction Mart, Livestock Ring

ID on this website: 200400470

Location: Melrose

County: Scottish Borders

Electoral Ward: Selkirkshire

Parish: Melrose

Traditional County: Roxburghshire

Tagged with: Architectural structure

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Saint Boswells

Description

1872. Single storey, octagonal-plan, livestock auction ring with cast-iron cow ornament weathervane finial. Rendered brick with later additions to N and S. Animal entrance/exit to SE. Lean-to addition to SW wall containing offices.

INTERIOR: boarded timber cladding to walls and ceiling with octagonal louvred cupola; timber columns and metal fencing surrounding central ring; boarded timber walls forming office and auctioneers box in S corner. 7-stage, tiered timber benching to outer walls. Tiled concrete floor within ring.

Fixed 4-pane glazing in timber windows. Grey slate. Irregular formation of flush rooflights. Louvred, triangular vents in alternate roof facets.

Statement of Interest

A rare and early example of a 19th century livestock auction ring currently remaining in use as such (2009). It is one of only a small handful remaining in Scotland, with other listed examples following the same plan-form at Kittybrewster in Aberdeen; Reston; Newton Stewart; Lanark and Lockerbie (see separate listings). It is remarkable for both its good condition and degree of intactness, with timber panelling rising through the full height of the interior, terminating at a central side-lit cupola.

The majority of surviving livestock auction rings were built around 1900 or later so this is notable as an early example following the octagonal form favoured in the South of the country, allowing maximum viewing space.

The 2nd Edition Ordnance Survey Map of 1892 depicts two further octagonal rings (demolished) at the Newtown Mart on the opposite side of the former railway line to the SW, evidencing the extent and importance of the cattle trade at Newtown St Boswell's in the 19th and 20th centuries.

External Links

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