The Railway Tavern, 31-37 Merry Street, Motherwell

The Railway Tavern, located at 31-37 Merry Street in Motherwell, is a public house built in 1908 by James Cowie. This two-storey, three-bay building features a rectangular plan and a symmetrical classical design, with tenements above. The exterior is constructed of red ashlar sandstone, with brick at the rear.

On the southeast, or principal elevation, there is a large tripartite window in the center of the ground floor, flanked by a timber mullion window on the left and a door with a fanlight on the right. The doors are topped with a consoled segmental pediment. The outer left bay also has a tripartite window with timber mullions, while the outer right bay features a plate glass shop front. The upper storey has a tripartite window in the center, supported by engaged Tuscan columns on blocked plinths. There are flanking windows and battered wallhead stacks, with canted windows in the outer bays.

The northwest, or rear elevation, includes three square-plan stair towers with piended roofs, along with modern additions at the ground level and forestairs leading to the upper storey tenements. Both the southwest and northeast side elevations are blind gable ends.

The original plate glass sash and case windows in the pub feature Glasgow School patterned leaded glass in the upper sash. The upper storey has a mixture of plate glass and four-pane upper sashes in its sash and case windows. The roof is covered with grey slates and lead flashing, and there are coped skews and gable end stacks, along with cast-iron rainwater goods.

Inside, the tavern features a timber central bar with an oval counter and gantries at the center, although the side booths have been removed.