The following list includes all effective burghs in Scotland from the coming into force of the Burgh Police (Scotland) Act 1892 (55 & 56 Vict. c. 55), in 1893.1892 c.55 "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 ( ) 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 in Scotland.
Counties of cities
These four burghs were counties of cities, being independent from the surrounding counties for all judicial and local government purposes.
BurghDate of adoption of police systemEarlier burghal historyPost Union parliamentary burgh status Aberdeen royal burgh (County of a City from 1899 - previously straddled Aberdeenshire and Kincardineshire) 1862 Royal burgh from 1124 One of the Aberdeen Burghs 1708 to 1832 Aberdeen burgh constituency 1832 to 1885 Dundee royal burgh (County of a city from 1894 - previously in Forfarshire)Dundee Corporation Act 1894 (57 & 58 Vict. c.lxxiv) "An Act to provide for the constitution of the City and Royal Burgh of Dundee as a County of a City and to confer various powers on the Lord Provost Magistrates and Town Council for affording greater facilities for transacting the public business of the said City and Burgh and for other purposes" 1837 Royal burgh from 1191–1195 One of the Perth Burghs 1708 to 1832 Dundee burgh constituency 1832 to 1950 Edinburgh royal burgh (County of a City from 13th century) 1805 (by Private Act) Royal burgh from 1124–1127 Edinburgh burgh constituency 1708 to 1885 Glasgow royal burgh (County of a City from 1893 - previously in Lanarkshire)County of the City of Glasgow Act 1893 (56 & 57 Vict. c. clxxxviii) 1800 (by Private Act) Royal burgh 1611 One of the Clyde Burghs 1708 to 1832 Glasgow burgh constituency 1832 to 1885 Note a: Royal Burgh of Aberdeen absorbed Aberdeenshire burghs of Old Aberdeen burgh (burgh of barony 1489, police burgh 1860), Woodside (police burgh 1860) in 1891.
Note b: Royal Burgh of Glasgow absorbed the following burghs in the years shown; all were within Renfrewshire unless otherwise noted: 1846: Gorbals (private act 1808; within Lanarkshire) 1891: Crosshill (police burgh 1871), Govanhill (police burgh 1876; within Lanarkshire), Hillhead (police burgh 1869; within Lanarkshire), Pollokshields (police burgh 1876), Pollokshields East (police burgh 1880)City of Glasgow Act 1891 (54 & 55 Vict. c. cxxx), section 4. 1905: Kinning Park (police burgh 1871)Glasgow Corporation Order Confirmation Act 1905 (5 Edw. 7. c. cxxvii), Schedule, section 4. 1912: Govan (burgh of barony 1607, police burgh 1864; within Lanarkshire until 1891), Partick (police burgh 1852; within Lanarkshire until 1891), Pollokshaws (burgh of barony 1813, police burgh 1858)
Aberdeenshire Note: The royal burgh of Aberdeen was part of this county until 1899. Burgh Date of adoption of police system Earlier burghal history Post Union parliamentary burgh status Inverurie royal burgh 1867 Royal burgh 1558 One of the Elgin Burghs 1708 to 1918 Kintore royal burgh 1873 Royal burgh 1506-7 One of the Elgin Burghs 1708 to 1918 Ballater burgh 1891 None None Ellon burgh 1893 Burgh of barony 1707 None Fraserburgh burgh 1840 Burgh of barony 1546 Burgh of regality 1601 None Huntly burgh 1834 Burgh of barony 1488 Burgh of regality 1684 None Old Meldrum 1893 Burgh of barony 1671 None Peterhead burgh 1860 Burgh of barony 1587 Parliamentary burgh 1832 One of the Elgin Burghs 1832 to 1918 Rattray N/A Royal burgh 1563 None Rosehearty 1892 Burgh of barony 1681 None Turriff burgh 1858 Burgh of barony 1512 None
Angus (also known as Forfarshire) Note: The royal burgh of Dundee was part of this county until 1894. Burgh Date of adoption of police system Earlier burghal history Post Union parliamentary burgh status Arbroath royal burgh 1836 Royal burgh 1599 [or perhaps 1555,when Johne Lyne was a commissioner for "Abirbrothok"at a convention of the royal burghs of Scotland.]"Records of the Convention of the Royal Burghs of Scotland with Extracts from Other Records Relating to the Affairs of the Burghs of Scotland. 1295-1597," p. 10, William Paterson, Edinburgh (1866) One of the Aberdeen Burghs 1708 to 1832 and of the Montrose Burghs 1832 to 1950 Brechin royal burgh 1893? Royal burgh status ratified 1641 One of the Aberdeen Burghs 1708 to 1832 and of the Montrose Burghs 1832 to 1950 Forfar royal burgh 1857 Created royal burgh c 1123 - 62 One of the Perth Burghs 1708 to 1832 and of the Montrose Burghs 1832 to 1950 Montrose royal burgh 1833 Created royal burgh by c 1124 - 53 One of the Aberdeen Burghs 1708 to 1832 and of the Montrose Burghs 1832 to 1950 Broughty Ferry burgh - now part of Dundee 1864–1913 ‡ None None Carnoustie burgh 1889 None None Kirriemuir burgh 1834 Burgh of barony 1459 Burgh of regality 1670 None Monifieth burgh 1895 None None
‡ Absorbed by Dundee royal burgh 1913
Argyll Burgh Date of adoption of police system Earlier burghal history Post Union parliamentary burgh status Campbeltown royal burgh 1846 Royal burgh 1700 Previously burgh of barony 1667 One of the Ayr Burghs 1708 to 1832 Inveraray royal burgh 1833 Royal burgh 1648 Previously burgh of barony 1474 One of the Ayr Burghs 1708 to 1832 Dunoon burgh 1868 Burgh of barony 1835 None Lochgilphead burgh 1858 None None Oban burgh 1862 Burgh of barony 1820 Parliamentary burgh 1832 One of the Ayr Burghs 1832 to 1918 Tobermory burgh 1875 None None
Ayrshire Burgh Date of adoption of police system Earlier burghal history Post Union parliamentary burgh status Ayr royal burgh 1850 Created royal burgh c. 1203-6 One of the Ayr Burghs 1708 to 1950 Irvine royal burgh 1875 Royal burgh 1372 One of the Ayr Burghs 1708 to 1950 Ardrossan burgh 1865 Burgh of barony 1846 One of the Ayr Burghs 1918 to 1950 Cumnock and Holmhead burgh 1866 Cumnock created burgh of barony 1680 None Darvel burgh 1873 None None Galston burgh 1864 None None Girvan burgh 1889 Burgh of barony 1668 None Kilmarnock burgh 1847 Burgh of barony 1592 Parliamentary burgh 1832 One of the Kilmarnock Burghs 1832 to 1918 Kilwinning burgh 1889 None None Largs burgh 1876 Burgh of barony 1595 (as Newton of Gogo, re-erected as Largs 1629) None Maybole burgh 1857 Burgh of barony 1516 None Newmilns and Greenholm burgh 1834 Burgh of barony 1490 Burgh of regality 1707 None Prestwick burgh 1903 Ancient burgh of barony dating from 10th century Confirmed 1600 One of the Ayr Burghs 1918 to 1950 Saltcoats burgh 1885 Burgh of barony 1529 Confirmed 1586 One of the Ayr Burghs 1918 to 1950 Stevenston burgh 1952 None None Stewarton burgh 1868 None None Troon burgh 1896 None One of the Ayr Burghs 1918 to 1950
Banffshire Burgh Date of adoption of police system Earlier burghal history Post Union parliamentary burgh status Banff royal burgh 1840 Created royal burgh c. 1203-6 One of the Elgin Burghs 1708 to 1918 Cullen royal burgh 1870 Royal burgh 1372 One of the Elgin Burghs 1708 to 1918 Aberchirder burgh 1889 None None Aberlour burgh 1894 Burgh of barony 1814 None Buckie burgh 1888 None None Dufftown burgh 1863 None None Findochty burgh 1915 None None Keith burgh 1889 None None Macduff burgh 1853 Burgh of barony 1528 None Portknockie burgh 1912 None None Portsoy burgh 1889 Burgh of barony 1550 None
Berwickshire Burgh Date of adoption of police system Earlier burghal history Post Union parliamentary burgh status Lauder royal burgh 1875 Confirmed 1502 One of the Haddington Burghs 1708 to 1885 Coldstream burgh 1833 Burgh of barony 1621 None Duns burgh 1842 Burgh of barony 1490 None Eyemouth burgh 1866 Burgh of barony 1598 None
Buteshire Burgh Date of adoption of police system Earlier burghal history Post Union parliamentary burgh status Rothesay royal burgh 1846 Royal burgh 1401 One of the Ayr Burghs 1708 to 1832 Millport burgh 1864 None None
Caithness Burgh Date of adoption of police system Earlier burghal history Post Union parliamentary burgh status Wick royal burgh 1862 Royal burgh 1589 One of the Tain Burghs 1708 to 1832 and of the Wick Burghs 1832 to 1918 Thurso burgh 1841 Burgh of barony 1633 None
Clackmannanshire Burgh Date of adoption of police system Earlier burghal history Post Union parliamentary burgh status Alloa burgh 1854 Burgh of regality 1497, reerected 1620 None Alva burgh 1876 None None Dollar burgh 1891 Burgh of regality 1702 None Tillicoultry burgh 1871 Burgh of barony 1634 None
Dumfriesshire Burgh Date of adoption of police system Earlier burghal history Post Union parliamentary burgh status Annan royal burgh 1858 Royal burgh by 1532 One of the Dumfries Burghs 1708 to 1918 Dumfries royal burgh 1833 Royal burgh c 1186 Absorbed Maxwelltown burgh (Kirkcudbrightshire) in 1930 One of the Dumfries Burghs 1708 to 1918 Lochmaben royal burgh 1858 Confirmed 1612 Recognised as royal burgh by 1447 One of the Dumfries Burghs 1708 to 1918 Sanquhar royal burgh 1890 Royal burgh 1598 Originally burgh of barony 1484 One of the Dumfries Burghs 1708 to 1918 Langholm burgh 1845 Burgh of barony 1621 Burgh of regality 1687 None Lockerbie burgh 1863 None None Moffat burgh 1864 Burgh of regality 1648 Confirmed 1662 None
Dunbartonshire Burgh Date of adoption of police system Earlier burghal history Post Union parliamentary burgh status Dumbarton royal burgh 1833 Royal burgh by 1532 One of the Clyde Burghs 1708 to 1832, of the Kilmarnock Burghs 1832 to 1918 and of the Dumbarton Burghs 1918 to 1950 Bearsden burgh 1958 None None Clydebank burgh 1886 None One of the Dumbarton Burghs 1918 to 1950 Cove and Kilcreggan burgh 1865 None None Cumbernauld burgh 1968 Burgh of barony 1649 - 1893 None Helensburgh burgh 1846 Burgh of barony 1802 None Kirkintilloch burgh 1836 Burgh of barony 1526 None Milngavie burgh 1875 Burgh of regality 1648 Confirmed 1662 None
East Lothian (also known as Haddingtonshire) Burgh Date of adoption of police system Earlier burghal history Post Union parliamentary burgh status Dunbar royal burgh 1863 'Free' burgh 1370 One of the Haddington Burghs 1708 to 1885 Haddington royal burgh 1858 Created royal burgh c 1124 - 53 One of the Haddington Burghs 1708 to 1885 North Berwick royal burgh 1860 Royal burgh by 1425 One of the Haddington Burghs 1708 to 1885 Cockenzie and Port Seton burgh 1885 Burgh of barony (as Cockenzie) 1591 Burgh of regality (as Winton) 1686 None East Linton burgh 1863 None None Prestonpans burgh 1862 Burgh of barony 1552 None Tranent burgh 1860 Burgh of barony 1542 None
Edinburghshire See Midlothian
Elginshire See Morayshire
Fife