Alan Carr retains unsold concrete cow sculpture from castle auction in Scottish Borders

Comedian Alan Carr has decided to keep a unique concrete cow sculpture after it failed to sell at an auction held on Sunday, July 5, 2026, at his newly purchased Ayton Castle in the Scottish Borders. This auction featured a variety of items previously owned by Carr and the former owners, attracting significant interest.

Details of the Auction

The auction, conducted by Jim Railton of Railtons Auctioneers, showcased hundreds of items, including furniture, paintings, and textiles. The event was busy, lasting approximately seven and a half hours, with the highest bid reaching £24,000 for a five-seater Bentley Mulsanne. Railton noted that only one item, the concrete cow, did not find a buyer.

Railton remarked, "Seven-and-a-half hours of selling non-stop and we only had one item that was unsold, which is quite a good record." The cow was part of a broader collection of sculptures from the Branxton Cement Menagerie, which Carr intends to keep as a memento.

Historical Significance of the Cow Sculpture

The concrete cow sculpture is not just an ordinary piece of art; it originates from a collection created by a retired joiner in the 1960s, designed to entertain his disabled son. This collection later became a beloved visitor attraction before being relocated to Ayton Castle in 2021. Carr's decision to retain the cow symbolizes a connection to this rich history.

Railton explained, "For some reason we couldn't get a bid for it. So Alan Carr, who has bought the castle, is going to keep it as an ornament or a memory of all the animals that were at Branxton and then went to Ayton."

Success of Other Auction Items

Despite the unsold cow, the auction was deemed a success overall. The Branxton animals fetched approximately £28,000, contributing to an estimated total of £100,000 generated from the sale. Railton expressed satisfaction with the performance of the Branxton items, stating, "I was quite pleased with the Branxton animals because that was a bit of an unknown quantity, how well they'd do."

This auction not only highlights Alan Carr's unique taste but also the cultural significance of the items sold, bridging the past with the present in his newly acquired castle.