From earliest times until 1975 the
Burgh Council governed everyday life of the Burgh. Over
the centuries public life was transformed both by external
influences and the decisions of the Burgh’s administrators.
What was the Burgh Council? The Burgh Council [sometimes called the Town Council]
was made up of burgesses who were members of trade and merchant
guilds. Officials, such as the Provost, Town Clerk, and Chamberlain
were appointed, each having specific duties.
From the 1500s to 1833 the Council consisted of the previous
year’s magistrates and 5 new members, elected mainly
from the merchants guild, plus 2 deacons selected from the
craft trades.
What and
who was a Burgess? A
burgess was someone with special trading rights related to
their occupation - only burgesses were allowed to trade in
the Burgh. To become a burgess a person had to own a piece
of land within the burgh and swear an oath of loyalty and
duty. In return, a burgess had certain responsibilities,
including defence of the Burgh in the event of trouble. These
criteria and responsibilities gradually changed over time
as the Burgh extended and developed. The monopoly on trading
rights enjoyed by the burgesses came to an end in 1846 with
the introduction of the Abolition of Burgh and Corporation
Privileges Act.
The
Burgh shared the responsibility of ensuring the safety
and welfare of its citizens with a variety of other organisations,
each having specific functions and duties to the Burgh
and its people.
• Commissioners of Supply – responsible for collecting taxes throughout
the County of Ayr
• Road Trustees – formed to build and look after toll roads and improve
routes
• Parochial Board [1845-94] and Parish Council [1894-1929]– responsibilities
to the poor, cemeteries, and civil registration in the Parish of Ayr
• Ayr County Council [1890-1975] – County wide and assumed the powers
of the Commissioners of Supply, Road Trustees, Parochial Boards, and Justices
of the Peace. Main responsibilities included: education, rates and assessments,
health and welfare, water, lighting, planning and roads.
After 1975, the Burgh Council was dissolved and its
responsibilities were transferred to succeeding councils.
Ayr County Council also disappeared and the new Strathclyde
Regional Council [1975-1996] assumed many of the responsibilities
of the old County Councils in the region.
![Burgess Ticket of Ayr [detail]](images/ayr_council_0004a.jpg)
