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Person code |
NA6773 |
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Corporate name |
Royal Burgh of Peebles |
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Activity |
Though its earliest surviving royal charter was issued by David II in 1367, it seems clear enough that Peebles was created a royal burgh by David I in 1152 or 1153. A royal burgh holds its charter direct from the crown. They were heavily taxed but were granted various privileges: burgage tenure, representation in parliament, and commercial privileges, especially in foreign trade
Peebles remained a royal burgh and went on to become a police burgh from 1864 under the terms of the General Police and Improvement (Scotland) Act 1862 (25 & 26 Vict, c. 101). Its council consisted of a provost, 2 bailies, 7 councillors, a dean of guild, a treasurer, and a town clerk. Its governing body was reorganized under the Burgh Police Act 1892 (55 & 56 Vict. c.55), with most functions in the hands of a police commission made up of a provost, two bailies and six commissioners. Under the Town Councils (Scotland) Act 1900 (63 & 64 Vict, c 49) the police commissioners were replaced by Peebles Town Council in January 1901. In accordance with the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1929 (19 & 20 Geo. V, c.25) Peebles was classed as a small burgh, which status it retained until 1975, when its town council was abolished under the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 (c 65). The council's powers were assumed by Borders Regional Council and Tweeddale District Council. These in turn were replaced by Scottish Borders Council in 1996 under the Local Government etc (Scotland) Act 1994 (c 39).
Peebles, in the parish of the same name, was the seat of the sheriff of Peebles, whose sheriffdom is first recorded in 1184. It was the county town of Peeblesshire from the county council's inception in 1890 till its dissolution in 1975. Peebles returned an MP to the British parliament from the Union until 1832. In that year separate parliamentary representation was discontinued and Peebles voted with Selkirk in the election of an MP for the counties of Peebles and Selkirk. The main industries in the town were wool, linen and cotton weaving. In the 1820s the population was over 2,000, and by 1891 had risen to 4,700. In 1971, when the last census was taken before abolition of the small burghs, Peebles had a population of 5,884. Peebles is now a touring and fishing resort and conference centre, and in 2001 its population was over 7,100. |
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Dates |
c1153-1975 |
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Non preferred term |
Burgh of Peebles |
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Notes |
See Robin Smith, 'The Making of Scotland' (Edinburgh, 2001); Ordnance Gazetteer of Scotland (Edinburgh, 1883). |
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Associated records |
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| B58 | Records of Peebles Burgh | 1165-1948 |
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