Records of the Burgh of Macduff
- Reference:GB 228 AS/Bmcd
- Former Reference:GB 228 BH12
- Dates of Creation:1783 - 1975
- Name of Creator:
- Language of Material:English
- Physical Description:156 volumes + 188 documents
Scope and Content
The collection comprises:
AS/Bmcd/1 Macduff Burgh: Council Minutes
AS/Bmcd/2 Macduff Burgh: Chartularies
AS/Bmcd/3 Macduff Burgh: Annual Abstract of Accounts
AS/Bmcd/4 Macduff Burgh: Harbour Records
AS/Bmcd/5 Macduff Burgh: Committee Minute Books
AS/Bmcd/6 Macduff Burgh: Police Commissioners Minute Books
AS/Bmcd/7 Macduff Burgh: Ledgers
AS/Bmcd/8 Macduff Burgh: Doune District Rent Ledgers
AS/Bmcd/9 Macduff Burgh: Council Registers
AS/Bmcd/10 Macduff Burgh: Letter Books
AS/Bmcd/11 Macduff Burgh: Dean of Guild Court records
AS/Bmcd/12 Macduff Burgh: General and Harbour Cash Books
AS/Bmcd/13 Macduff Burgh: Rates Collection Books
AS/Bmcd/14 Macduff Burgh: Miscellaneous
Administrative / Biographical History
The town of Macduff, originally called Doune, was erected into a Burgh of Barony in favour of John Stewart, 3rd Earl of Buchan in 1528. In 1783, it was re-erected as a Burgh of Barony in favour of James Duff, 2nd Earl Fife and became a Police Burgh in 1853, two events that are reflected in the Council Minutes within the collection.
The burgh has always had a close association with its harbour and the industries related with it. This was initially built and maintained by the Duff family until it was purchased by the Town Council in 1898. However, the Council clearly had an interest in it before 1898, a fact that is reflected by the harbour records in the collection predating the purchase. The other Harbour records in this collection reflect the subsequent purchase of the Harbour, its administration and further development of it by the Town council.
The functions of Macduff Town Council ceased in 1975 when local government was reorganised and the burgh was incorporated into the new Grampian Regional Council. The records for this collection do not therefore go beyond that date.
Access Information
Open
Open for consultation at Old Aberdeen House, open Mon-Wed 9:30-12:30 and 13:30-16:30. It is advisable to make an appointment.
Other Finding Aids
Please see the Aberdeen City & Aberdeenshire Archives catalogue at https://archives.aberdeencity.gov.uk/CalmView/
Custodial History
Minutes 1783 - 1960 deposited with Grampian Regional Archives by Banff & Buchan District Council, 1976. Additional minutes, 1960-1975 received in 1996 (part of accession 061).
Visitor's book deposited in 2012 (accession 1762). Additional records received as accession 1848 from Aberdeenshire Council Archaeology service in 2014. Housing records received in 2014 as accession 1853. Additional letter books received in 2015: originally stored in St Leonards, Banff, collected from Woodhill House (accession 2367).
Accruals
Accession 1848
Subjects