User:Jnestorius/List of burghs in Scotland

< List of burghs in Scotland

The following list includes all effective burghs in Scotland from the coming into force of the Burgh Police (Scotland) Act 1892, in 1893. "Ineffective" burghs, which had not used legislation to adopt a "police system", take on local government duties and reform their town councils, were abolished on this date.

Burgh (pronounced burruh ) is the Scots term for a town or a municipality. It corresponds to the Scandinavian Borg and the English Borough.

Burghs are listed below under the name of the county to which they belonged. The county boundaries used are those effective for local government purposes from circa 1890 until 1975. During this period four burghs were also counties, or counties of cities.

1903 list
Aberchirder Abercorn Aberdour Aberfeldy Aberluthnot Abernethy Aboyne Airth Alford Alloa Alva Alyth Amisfield Anderston Ardgowan Ardrossan Armadale Arran Auchinleck Auchterarder Auchtergaven Auchtermuchty Auchtertool Auldearn Balgavies Balgownie Ballantrae Ballater Ballinclach Ballinkellie Ballynald Banchory Barrhead Bathgate Beauly Biggar Blackford Blairgowrie Blantyre Bonarness Bonnyrigg Borrowstounness Bothwell Bridge Of Allan Bridgeness Brora Broughty Ferry Buchlyvie Buckhaven, Methil, And Innerleven Buckie Burghead Callander Calton, Edinburgh Calton, Glasgow Campbeltown Of Calder Canongate Cardoness Carnoustie Carnwarth Carrick, Orkney Carrington Carsphairn Carstairs Cartland Cartsdyke Castle Douglas Castlehaven Castlemerk Ceres Charlestown Of Aberlour Chronan, And Beneath The Shield Is Another Motto, Stand Fast Citadel Of Ayr, The Citadel Of Leith, The Clackmannan Clatt Clerkington Clive Clydebank Cockburnspath Cockenzie And Port Seton Coldingham Coldstream Colinsburgh Corshill Coul Coupar-Angus Cove And Kilcreggan Covesea Cowdenbeath Cowie Craig Or Craigtoune Cranstoun Craufordyke Crawford Crawfordjohn Crieff Cromdale Crook Of Devon Cumnock Dalbeattie Dalgarnock Dalgatie Dalkeith Dalmellington, Castelmerk Of Dalmeny Dalnagarne Darnaway Darvel Denny And Dunipace Dirleton Dollar Douglas Doune, Banffshire Doune, Perthshire Drem Drumlethie Drummochy Drummond Dryburgh Dufftown Dunachtoune Dunblane Dunbog Dundonald Dunglass Dunkeld Dunning Dunoon Duns Durris Earlsferry Earlston East Linton Easter Haven Echt Eddleston Edzell Egglismaldie Eglismartine Elie, Liberty, And Williamsburgh Ellon Elphinston Erroll Eyemouth Fairlie Faithlie Ferrie-Port-On-Craig Fettercairn Fifeness Findhorn Findon Fochabers Fordoun Fordyce Forgandenny Forgue Forret Fort-William Foulford Foulis Fraserburgh Fraserfield Freuchie, Inverness-Shire Fullarton Fyvie Galston Gargunnock Garmouth Gatehouse Geddes Girvan Glammis Glenluce Gordonsburgh Gourock Govan Grange, Linlithgowshire Grangemouth Grantown-On-Spey Greenlaw Halkerton Hatton Of Fintray Helensburgh Hemprigs Heron Herys Or Terregles Hopetoun Houstoun Hunthill Huntly Inchgall Innergellie Innerleithen Innerleven Innermessan Innerwick Insch, Aberdeenshire Inver Of Dunbeath Inverbroray Invergordon Inveruchill Johnstone Keith Keithinch Kelso Keltoun Kenmore Keppach Kesburc Kethick Kilbarchan Kilbride, Kirkton Of Kildrummy Killin Kilmaurs Kilmun Kilpatrick Kilsyth Kilwinning Kincardine O'neil Kincardine-On-Forth Kincardine Kingsburgh Kingussie Kinloss Kinningpark Kinnoull Kinross Kirkintilloch Kirkliston Kirkmichael, Fifeshire Kirkmichael, Perthshire Kirkshilloch Kirkstyle Kirkton Of Carsphairn Kirkton Of Deskford Kirkton Of Dunning Kirkton Kirriemuir Knockreavie Lacock Of Abercairney Ladybank Laggan Lagyrath Lamlash Langholm Langton Largo Largs Lasswade Laurencekirk Lerwick Leslie Lesmahago Leven Linktoun Linton Livingston Loanhead Lochgelly Lochgilphead Lochluy Lochryan Lockerbie Logierait Longforgan Longnewton Lossiemouth And Branderburgh Macduff Magnusburgh Markinch Maryhill Marykirk Marywell Mauchlin Maxton Maxwelltown Maybole Meigle Meikle Dalton Meikleour Meikletoun Of Slains Melfort Melrose Methil Millport Milngavie Milntoun, Of Corshill Milntoun Miltounhaven Minnigaff Minto Moffat Moniave Monifieth Montgomerie Montgomeristoune Monymusk Motherwell Mount-Stuart Mugdock Muirtown Myretoun Newburgh, Aberdeenshire Newburgh, Fifeshire Newburgh, Wigtownshire Newmilns Newmylne Newport Newton -Stewart Newton-Mearns Newton-Upon-Ayr Nicolson Obsdaill Old Aberdeen Old Leslie Old Meldrum Ordequhill Park Partick Pencaitland Penicuik Pettie Pitlessie Pollokshaws Pollokshields Polmont Polwarth Port-In-Craig Port-Of-Monteith Port-Seton Portkill Portmaholmack Portmontgomerie Portross Portsburgh Portsoy Preston, Berwickshire Preston, Stewartry Of Kirkcudbright Prestonpans Prestoun Or Gourtoune, Mid-Lothian Prestwick Primrose Pulteneytown Rattray, Aberdeenshire Rattray, Perthshire Rayne Reay Redcastle Redford Restalrig Rhynie Roberton Rosebery Rosehearty Roslin Rothes Rothiemay Rottenraw Roxburgh Rutherford Ruthven Ruthwell Saint George Burgh Saint Martins Saint Monans Saltcoats Seatown Of Kinlos Seres Seton Skirling Smailholm South Leith Stewarton, Cunningham Stonehaven Stonehouse Stornoway Strathaven Strathmiglo Stromness Stuarton, Wigtownshire Tantallocholme Tarbat Tarbolton Tarland Tarvas Tayport Terregles Thirlestane Thornhill Thurso Tillicoultry Tobermory Torry Tounyettim Tranent Troon Troquhen Turriff Tynningham Valleyfield Wemyss West Kerse Wester Duddingstone Whitburn Wishaw Woodhouslee

MCS 1835
pp.19–20

Having said so much on the earlier history of that great class of burghs to which this Report more especially relates, it will not be necessary to enter into much additional explanation of the origin and constitution of those other classes of burghs, whose present state has been likewise pointed out for inquiry and consideration.

As the towns or villages which belonged in demesne to the Crown were naturally the first to share the favour of the sovereign, and to acquire a corporate existence, it may be presumed that those towns or villages which were the property of individuals, and which had grown up into some degree of importance under the protection of their immediate overlords, would follow at a considerable distance in the acquisition of similar advantages. Such, however, was the overpowering influence of the great baronial families, that even from an early period they appear to have been able to extort from the Kings of Scotland the privilege of incorporating the inhabitants of their own towns into burgal communities, and of imposing and collecting, either for their own use or for the use of such communities, tolls and customs within their own limits, similar in kind to those established in burghs royal. Coeval with these, or rather, perhaps, of even an earlier date, were some of the grants of burghs, which the piety of the sovereign impelled him to lavish on the spiritual lords of the kingdom, and under which some of them have grown up into great distinction. In the far greater number of the earlier charters to lords, both spiritual and temporal, the power of erecting particular towns or villages into burghs is conceived in general terms, leaving it to the grantees to exercise that power in such manner, or at such time, as they might think fit; in others more minute and specific powers are conferred, of appointing burgal magistrates and officers, and of appropriating the burgal revenues to the use of the overlord. But, independently of any such specification, it was evidently the right of the overlord to model his subaltern community according to his own pleasure, and to bestow on it such a share of independence, if any, as his own will might dictate. The varieties, in this respect, have accordingly been very great; the superior, in some cases, retaining the appointment of burgh officers entirely in his own hands; in others, conferring on the inhabitants the right of electing their own rulers; but, in general, retaining over them a power of control which left to them, at best, a very precarious independence.

In very few, certainly, if in any, of the early grants of the kind now spoken of, is there to be found any communication of that higher privilege of trade which belonged to the King's own burghs, and which, indeed, constituted their peculiar characteristic. But this, also, became an object of ambition; and charters were obtained from the Crown, raising those burghs of barony into the condition of free burghs; admitting them to the rights of trade, both foreign and internal; but at the same time, though without affecting their feudal tenure under their own superiors, subjecting them to the same class of public burdens and taxation which burghs royal had to sustain as the price of their peculiar privileges.

A further step yet remained, in the encroachments of the spiritual and temporal lords on the prerogatives of the Crown. One of the greatest objects of their ambition, as well as the most dangerous, was the possession of exclusive criminal jurisdiction within their own territories; and in this also the predominant influence of the clergy seems to have induced and enabled them to lead the way. The extent to which these grants of regality were carried, was such as to cover no inconsiderable portion of the whole territory of the kingdom; and when contrasted with what retained the name of royalty, may be justly regarded as having stripped the Crown of the better half of its highest prerogative. In every regality a certain head burgh was appointed by the grant; and though, in this way, no alteration was made on the feudal state of the inhabitants or of the burgal territory, the higher jurisdiction thus conferred on the overlord and his subordinate officers very naturally led to the common distinction of burghs of regality and of barony.

'''That distinction has ceased to be of any importance since the abolition of all heritable jurisdictions by the Act of 20 Geo. II. c. 43; but under the operation of that Act, another distinction was created between those burghs on which a municipal constitution had been conferred, either by their original overlords or by grants from the Crown, and those which, at the date of the Act, continued to be dependent on their respective lords''' of regality or barony. To the former the jurisdiction and privileges, then competent to them by law, were preserved, with the exception of the power of repledging from the courts of the King; whereas from the latter was taken away all “jurisdiction in criminal causes other than assaults, batteries, and smaller crimes, for which the punishment to be inflicted should only be by a fine not exceeding twenty shillings sterling, or by setting the delinquent in the stocks for any time not exceeding three hours in the day time;” and in ordinary civil causes of debt or damage, their powers of judging were limited to sums not exceeding forty shillings.

Other quotes

 * Each royal burgh (with the exception of four 'ineffective burghs') was represented in the Scottish parliament and could appoint magistrates with wide powers in civil and criminal justice. By 1707 there were 70 royal burghs.

Primary

 * Miscellany of the Scottish Burgh Record Society by Marwick, James David, Sir; Tucker, Thomas (1881, Edinburgh)
 * REGISTER CONTAINEING THE STATE AND CONDITION OF EVERY BURGH WITHIN THE KINGDOME OF SCOTLAND, IN THE YEAR 1692.
 * Instructions given be the Royall Borrows to the Visitors, 9 July 1691. [For each royal burgh, the report lists unfree burghs, albeit seldom distinguishing regalities from baronies]
 * 8. Item, they are also to take ane accompt of what ships they are owners visitors or partners in, out of ther own burghs als weell as in the same, and this to be given accompt of conform to ther oath of knowledge and how far they are concerned with the burghs of regalities and barronies in the matter of trade.
 * 14. Item, that the visitors of the royall borrows in ther circut of visitation take information from the magistrats of the royall burghs of the state and condition of the regalities, barronies, and other unfree burghs within ther respective precints, as to ther trade, comon good, and condition of ther houses and inhabitants of the unfrie burghs, and that the saides informationes be given in by the saids magistrats to the visitors dureing the tyme they stay within ther burgh.
 * [lists 66 royal burghs]
 * 1835 report of Commissioners of Inquiry into Municipal Corporations in Scotland
 * General Report
 * II. Burghs of Regality and Barony, and Unincorporated Towns. (pp.97–99) "We have refrained from giving detailed Reports upon any but the more important of these burghs and towns, but we have prepared tables which exhibit the amount of population, revenue, and peculiar constitution of each"
 * Appendix to the General Report
 * Tables shewing the state and condition of various burghs of barony and unincorporated towns, not being parliamentary burghs, or included within the parliamentary boundaries of other cities or burghs [For I and II only title pages are present in volume; tables themselves are missing]
 * I.—Independent burghs of barony (pp.90–91 missing)
 * II.—Burghs of barony dependent on a superior, but having charters or grants. (pp.94–95 missing)
 * III.—Burghs of barony holding of a superior, and towns holding feu of one or more superiors, having no elected magistrates. (pp.98–101 present!)
 * Local Reports Part I: Arbroath to Fortrose (also here)
 * Local Reports Part II: Glasgow to Wigtown
 * Local Reports: Burghs of Regality and Barony, and Unincorporated Towns
 * Appendix of Charters, Statutes and Other Documents illustrative of the constitution of Burghs of Regality and Barony
 * Census
 * 1901 Vol.1

! Table !! Name !! Pages
 * V. || The parliamentary burghs, the parliamentary districts of burghs and of counties ... also an explanation of the difference between the civil and parliamentary counties
 * 189-204
 * VI.|| The royal burghs of Scotland, arranged in alphabetical order || 205-207
 * VII. || The municipal and police burghs, arranged under each county || 209-214
 * VIII. || The wards (municipal) of burghs so sub-divided-the burghs being arranged in alphabetical order || 215-221
 * IX. || The counties (administrative), county districts, and electoral divisions || 223-252
 * X. || The public health areas of Scotland in counties, districts, and burghs || 253-260
 * }
 * VIII. || The wards (municipal) of burghs so sub-divided-the burghs being arranged in alphabetical order || 215-221
 * IX. || The counties (administrative), county districts, and electoral divisions || 223-252
 * X. || The public health areas of Scotland in counties, districts, and burghs || 253-260
 * }
 * X. || The public health areas of Scotland in counties, districts, and burghs || 253-260
 * }

Secondary

 * Urban Beginnings
 * Appendix: The foundation of Scottish burghs (339 regality or barony arranged alphabetically by county)
 * [include many burghs with no arms; perhaps as exhaustive as the authors could be]
 * Type details for Scottish Burgh/District Vision of Britain
 * Burgh of Regality (BuRe) 70
 * County Landward (CLandward) 36 List all
 * Unknown Status (UBu) 26 List all
 * Burgh of Barony (BuBa)346
 * Large Burgh (LBu) 21 List all
 * Parliamentary Burgh (PaBu) 14 List all
 * District of County (DoC) 210
 * Police Burgh (PoBu) 219
 * Royal Burgh (RoBu) 94
 * Small Burgh (SBu) 177
 * For example Port Glasgow Burgh (one of several "units named after" Port Glasgow) at "Relationships and changes" tab has Status:
 * Burgh of Barony (after 1668)
 * Parliamentary Burgh (after 1832)
 * Police Burgh (1803 - 1975)
 * Large Burgh (1930 - 1975)
 * [historical summary and list of burghs with synopsis of type and dates.]
 * Parliamentary Burgh (after 1832)
 * Police Burgh (1803 - 1975)
 * Large Burgh (1930 - 1975)
 * [historical summary and list of burghs with synopsis of type and dates.]
 * [historical summary and list of burghs with synopsis of type and dates.]