An exaggerated example of the Scots Baronial style by architect David Rhind (1808-83), the Selkirk Sheriff Court and Justice of the Peace Court was built as the Selkirkshire County Buildings, 1868-70, at a cost of £10,152. Located on a sloping site on Ettrick Terrace, this is widely regarded as one of the most impressive buildings in the town. It features a large round tower with parapet to the rear, a rope-moulded entranceway, crow-stepped gables, corbelled-out towers and is replete with pepper-pot turrets.
Operated by the Scottish Courts Service, the court has one resident Sheriff and deals with business from an area of the Scottish Borders covering 909 sq. miles (2354 sq. km), with a population of 52,650 (2013). Selkirk currently takes responsibility for the administration of Peebles Sheriff Court and Justice of the Peace Court and the business of these courts will transfer permanently to Selkirk when these close in 2015.
This building is linked underground to the Selkirk Library, on the opposite side of the road, which was built as the prison in 1804. The library contains a memorial to the author Andrew Lang (1844 - 192), whose father was Sheriff-Clerk of Selkirkshire. Sir Walter Scott (1771 - 1832) dispensed justice as Sheriff of Selkirkshire between 1803 and 1832 in the old Sheriff Court building nearby, now preserved as Sir Walter Scott's Courtroom.
