Alan Carr sells unwanted items from Scottish castle for £140k including Axminster carpet and grandfather clock

The Celebrity Traitors winner had a clear out ahead of renovating Ayton Castle after he bought it for £3.25million earlier this year. The move sparked controversy when Carr was accused of "cultural appropriation" but he later said he had turned down the chance to buy a baron title and have his own tartan.

His renovation is being filmed as part of a Disney+ documentary and the public has now been offered the chance to own some of its contents that are being auctioned off on site.

An auction, handled by Railtons, was described as "the chance to acquire items from one of the Borders’ most distinctive country houses."

Among the highlights were more than 90 lots from the Branxton Cement Menagerie, one of Northumberland’s best-known outsider-art collections - statues of animals, rural scenes and historical figures. They sold for hundreds of pounds each.

Other items include woven rugs, towels, bed linen, an Edwardian pram, several beds, and a large collection of wine glasses - with most items priced between £40-100. A 2011 Bentley, the most expensive item on auction, sold for £24,000. The total haul was £137K. Portraits sold for over £400 each, a sideboard £200, an Axminster carpet £500, a grandfather clock £380 and an old bench £95.

Jim Railton, of the auctioneers Railtons, said the sale consisted of items Carr didn't want to keep.

He said: "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."

Over 400 lots were sold at Ayton Castle on July 5 at 10am, with viewings held prior on 3 and 4 July between 10am and 5pm for ticketholders.

The main art collection, created in the 1960s by retired joiner John Fairnington and known as the Branxton Cement Menagerie, began as a labour of love for his son and grew into a remarkable collection of more than 200 painted concrete sculptures, including animals, historical figures and rural scenes.

Over time, it became a much-loved visitor attraction and one of Britain’s most unusual folk-art collections, before being sold and relocated to Ayton Castle in 2021.

Ayton Castle itself was originally associated with a medieval fortified tower or peel, linked to the powerful Home family. Its position near the English border made it strategically important, and in the late 15th century it was considered one of the strongest places between Berwick and Edinburgh.

In 1497, it was captured by the English, and the nearby village of Ayton gave its name to the Treaty of Ayton, signed that same year. The earlier stronghold was later replaced by a more classical country house, which burned down in 1834. The estate was subsequently bought by William Mitchell-Innes, a banker connected with the Bank of Scotland, who commissioned the present castle.

The building seen today was created between 1845 and 1851 by architect James Gillespie Graham, with later additions by David Bryce and James Maitland Wardrop.

The sale comes just months after Carr back-tracked on claims he was to become a baron in his new castle and says he turned down the chance to buy the title. The castle boasts 17 bedrooms, nine bathrooms, a five-storey Great Tower, turrets, a private chapel and 106-acre listed gardens.

And Carr revealed previously he is ready to pick up the keys and relocate permanently. But he was accused of 'cultural appropriation' after pledging to become a ''baron with his own tartan''.

His comments on a podcast sparked a backlash among some locals - who accused him of being an 'invader' and engaging in 'cultural appropriation'. A spokesperson for Disney+ later confirmed that he had the chance to buy the title of Baron with the castle purchase - but opted not to. They added the ''gates will remain open for dog walkers and ramblers''.

The Disney+ spokesperson said: "Alan Carr is very much looking forward to making Ayton his home and getting to know the local community. The gates will remain open for the dog walkers and ramblers to continue enjoying the estate grounds. Alan hopes to host a few events at the castle to help cover the running costs, showcasing Ayton’s stunning backdrop and the surrounding area, with as little disruption as possible."

Carr previously said in the podcast: "It is my home, I have bought it, and I’m selling up and moving up there. I’m 50, I want a change. I’ve got the survey now, and I’m waiting for the keys to come. It’s a lovely community, really small, and I want it to be magical. I’ll be a baron, and I get my own tartan."