ONE of Peebles High Street's most iconic buildings is set to be rescued.

The 170-year-old former court building has been empty for almost three years.

And during that time it has been subjected to several attacks of vandalism as well as natural deterioration from the elements.

But the listed four-storey building is about to be transformed into a private dwelling with business units below.

Local couple Marc and Shona Haslam have purchased the former sheriff court with a view to restoring and preserving the building's architectural features.

Marc, who is an architect, told the Peeblesshire News: “It has been a lifelong dream to take on a project like this. 

"When we heard that the courthouse was for sale we immediately saw the potential and wanted to restore it.

“The lack of maintenance is starting to show and without someone to take it on and bring it back to its former glory it was at risk of being lost to our community.

“There is a lot of work to be done, but we have a wealth of talent in our local town, from builders to roofers, electricians to decorators, and I am really looking forward to using local knowledge to bring this building back to life.” 

For over 150 years justice was dispensed from the High Street building.
But the discovery of extensive dry rot forced its closure in 2001.

A replacement court was eventually established within the local authority's buildings on Rosetta Road.

And a campaign was launched by Peebles Sheriff Courthouse Conservation Trust to turn the vacant building into a library, college and offices.

A failure to attract sufficient funding prevented the ambitious £4 million plans coming to fruition, but the courthouse, which was built in 1841, was bought over and turned into a bar and restaurant. Offices and treatment rooms were also created in the ground floor.

But after the Courthouse Bar and Restaurant closed in 2015 fears began for the long-term future of the historic building.

Shona said: “One of the reasons that we were so keen on this building was the potential that it has for local businesses in the town. 

"We are hoping to use the ground floor to build a real local business hub, with affordable premises where business can flourish. 

“It is a huge amount of work, and I would be lying if I said I wasn’t daunted, but we are really excited about taking this project on.”