Monday November 24th 2025
Statue restoration
Written by Local Democracy Reporter, Paul Kelly
A funding bid towards the restoration of statues honouring two Scottish icons will be considered this week.
Representations of novelist, poet and historian Sir Walter Scott and explorer Mungo Park are located in Selkirk town centre.
The community charity Selkirk Regeneration was recently granted approval by Scottish Borders Council to spruce up the structures, both Category B listed monuments.
The work will involve removal of the paint finishes and full refurbishment of both monuments including stonework, bronze work, cast, lead and granite work.
The Sir Water Scott monument dates from 1839 and commemorates the world famous author who sat as Sheriff of Selkirk within the courthouse located behind the statue from 1800 until his death in 1832. The statue is on the spot of the former Tolbooth.
The monument commemorating Selkirk-born Mungo Park dates from 1859 and is located at the junction of the High Street and former market area of the Back Row.
Both are within Selkirk Conservation Area.
When members of Selkirk’s Common Good Fund Sub-Committee meet on Thursday, November 27, they will be invited to agree a contribution of £9,900 towards the £35,000 restoration costs.
A report to the members states the aim is to ensure that Park and Scott’s legacies are preserved and that the statues “become again a beacon for visitors and civic pride”.
It adds: “The restoration of the statues to the original stone will make it much easier to maintain, as opposed to the quick fix paintwork of yore, which ironically required more painting as it peeled off.
“Selkirk Regeneration, alongside the Community Council, elected SBC councillors and the trustees of the Common Good, will continue to have oversight of the statue, with maintaining its good condition being a priority.”
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