Alan Carr doesn't want them, do you? Contents of comedian's castle to be sold
The items going up for sale include the "cement menagerie" which came to the castle in 2021
ByGiancarlo Rinaldi
South Scotland reporter
Hundreds of unwanted items from a Scottish castle bought by comedian Alan Carr are being put up for sale at auction.
They include a selection of more than 90 lots from a "cement menagerie" - painted sculptures of animals, historical figures and rural scenes.
It was revealed earlier this year that the Celebrity Traitors winner had bought Ayton Castle in the Scottish Borders, which was on the market for offers over £3.25m.
Now buyers can secure a part of its "residual" contents - unwanted by both Carr and the castle's former owners - which are being sold at auction next month.
The auction will take place at Ayton Castle on Sunday 5 July - with viewing on the Friday and the Saturday beforehand.
Tickets are required for both the viewing and the auction itself.
Jim Railton, of the auctioneers Railtons, explained: "Basically it's the residual contents of Ayton Castle.
"Alan Carr, as we know, has bought the castle and he's bought a certain amount of the furnishings.
"But the residual items that he doesn't want - and that the last owners of the castle don't want to take to their new house - we're selling."
Carr recently accepted the Bafta Reality Award for The Celebrity Traitors along with Claudia Winkleman
One of the highlights are the lots containing the Northumberland folk art creations from the Branxton Cement Menagerie.
They were created by a retired joiner in the 1960s to entertain his disabled son.
The collection grew to more than 200 items and the auctioneers said that "what began as a father's labour of love became a much-loved visitor attraction".
It was sold and relocated to Ayton Castle in 2021 but its pieces are now being sold off to the highest bidder.
The auction will take place at Ayton Castle next month
"It's naive art," explained Railton.
"It was created by a retired joiner for his disabled son and it was a well-known visitor attraction in Branxton.
"People came from far and wide to visit it in Branxton and the whole lot was bought by the previous owners of Ayton Castle."
The concrete sculptures are just one part of more than 400 items going under the hammer, including paintings, furniture and textiles.
The "cement menagerie" was something of a tourist attraction before being moved to the grounds of the castle in 2021
The vast majority of the items are estimated to fetch just a few hundred pounds each.
However, one bidder with deeper pockets could drive off in their purchase.
A five-seater 2011 Bentley Mulsanne with just over 40,000 miles on the clock could sell for between £20,000 and £30,000.
At the other end of the scale are two contemporary LNER railway time boards - both sides with information - estimated to attract bids of between just £10 and £15.
One of the cheaper items is this departure board
Railton said there had already been interest nationally and internationally.
"It's going to be a big local Borders event with a marquee on the lawn and a lot of stuff being sold," he said.
"We've got about 460 lots so far."
The sale is being conducted by Railtons auctioneers and the full details are available on their website., external