Burgh of Eyemouth Archive

• Reference:GB 1097 BE
• Dates of Creation:1866-1976
• Name of Creator:
  Burgh of Eyemouth
• Language of Material:English
• Physical Description:
  131 items

• Scope and Content

  This archive contains town council minute books, letter books and accounts; records of the Eyemouth Cemetery Joint Committee and the Eyemouth Burgh Local Pension Committee; an Eyemouth Harbour duty book and trust minute book; Burgh bye-laws and orders; assessment rolls and building records. Items with an alternative reference number are marked with this reference, rather than the new BE reference number.

• Administrative / Biographical History

  In 1597 James VI granted a charter in favour of Sir George Home of Wedderburn that erected Eyemouth a free burgh of barony with the privilege of a free port. The charter granted various other privileges, including allowing the inhabitants and free burgesses to annually elect magistrates, with the consent of Home and his heirs, to hold markets and fairs and to appoint clerks and officers. However, a nineteenth century report states that 'In so far as is known the inhabitants never have exercised the privileges conferred by the charter'. The report also records that the Homes of Wedderburn 'have been in the practice of appointing a baron bailie and baron officer for the government of the place, whom they pay' and that occasionally the baron bailie held courts. (Handyside p. 55) In 1865 Eyemouth became a Police Burgh with an elected Town Council. Following the Burgh Police (Scotland) Act, 1892, the Chief Magistrate was given the title of Provost and the other Magistrates the title of Bailie. Eyemouth became a Small Burgh in 1930. When burghs were abolished in 1975 Eyemouth became part of the Berwickshire district in the Borders Region. In 1996 it became part of the Scottish Borders council area. Sources: Eyemouth Official Guide (n.d. [mid 20th century]), p. 43., Report on the Burgh of Barony of Eyemouth (Berwickshire) by R. Handyside (n.d. [1830s?]), Scottish Archive Network www.scan.org.uk, ScotlandsPlaces: www.scotlandsplaces.gov.uk.

• Arrangement

  BE/1 Town Council Minute Books.

  BE/2 Town Council Letter Books.

  BE/3 Town Council Accounts and Treasurers' Books.

  BE/4 Eyemouth Cemetery Joint Committee Records.

  BE/5 Eyemouth Burgh Local Pension Committee Records.

  BE/6 Harbour Records.

  BE/7 Bye-laws and Orders.

  BE/8 Assessment Rolls.

  BE/9 Building Records.

• Access Information

  Open

  Scottish Borders Archives operates within Local Authority, Freedom of Information and Data Protection Legislation, whereby some limitations on access may apply.

• Conditions Governing Use

  Applications for permission to quote should be sent to the Archive Manager. Reproduction subject to usual conditions: educational or private use & condition of documents.

• Custodial History

  Transferred from Duns Museum and Eyemouth Museum.

• Accruals

  None expected.

• Related Material

  Other items relating to the Burgh of Eyemouth are located in the records of the County of Berwickshire, including parish assessment rolls and school records.

  SBA523 [Eyemouth] Grocer's Account Books

  SBA524 Fisherman's Association Records