Victoria Halls

Victoria Halls is a historic public hall on Scotts Place in Selkirk, a Scottish Borders town in southern Scotland. Built in the late Victorian era, it still serves residents as a venue for performances, meetings and community events.

What is this place?

The building was designed by Hippolyte J. Blanc, an Edinburgh architect responsible for many notable buildings across Scotland. Construction was complete around 1895, and the official opening took place on 6 May 1897, performed by the Duke of Buccleuch and Queensberry, one of the area's most important landowners. A plaque marking the occasion survives in the building. The hall was created in honour of Queen Victoria, hence its name.

Over the decades it was extended and altered. A kitchen was added on the north-east side in 1975, and another extension followed on the north-west in 1991. Despite these changes, the building has kept its historic character.

What is worth seeing?

The main hall is the highlight. A balcony with a panelled front runs along one side, carried on plaster columns with composite capitals, and a bust of Queen Victoria sits at its centre. The original raked seating survives. A later proscenium arch and raked stage stand at the north-west end; the arch was paid for by the Association of Selkirk Clubs and Societies.

In front of the building stands a fountain cast at the Val d'Osne foundry in France, with sculpture by Hubert Lavigne. Together with the boundary wall, gateposts and railings, it forms part of the protected group.

Right beside the hall is the Fletcher memorial, set on ground acquired for the building. It commemorates the one man who came home to Selkirk from the Battle of Flodden in 1513; of eighty local men who went to war, he alone returned.

Heritage status

Victoria Halls is a Category B listed building, added to the register on 11 December 1996. The listing covers the hall and its setting, including the fountain. The hall and its caretaker's flat are classed as common good property, held for the benefit of the community.

Frequently asked questions

Where are Victoria Halls? On Scotts Place in Selkirk, in the Scottish Borders, southern Scotland.

When were they built? The building was completed in 1895 to a design by Hippolyte J. Blanc and officially opened in 1897.

Can I go inside? The hall is let for events and local activities. It has a main hall with stage and balcony, a smaller hall upstairs, a committee room and a kitchen. Check with the hall's administrators for event dates and access.

What else is nearby? The Fletcher memorial is the closest sight, and Selkirk's historic centre is pleasant to explore, reflecting the town's past as a royal burgh.

Why does it matter? It is a well-preserved example of Victorian civic architecture that still works as a cultural hub for its community.