Ettrick and Lauderdale (''Eadaraig agus Srath Labhdair'' in
Scottish Gaelic
Scottish Gaelic (, ; Endonym and exonym, endonym: ), also known as Scots Gaelic or simply Gaelic, is a Celtic language native to the Gaels of Scotland. As a member of the Goidelic language, Goidelic branch of Celtic, Scottish Gaelic, alongs ...
) was one of four local government districts in the
Borders region of
Scotland
Scotland is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It contains nearly one-third of the United Kingdom's land area, consisting of the northern part of the island of Great Britain and more than 790 adjac ...
as well as a
lieutenancy area
Lieutenancy areas (), officially counties and areas for the purposes of the lieutenancies, are the separate areas of the United Kingdom that are appointed to a lord-lieutenant – a representative of the British monarch. In many cases they have s ...
from 1975 to 1996.
History
The district was created on 16 May 1975 under the
Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973
The Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 (c. 65) is an Act of Parliament (UK), act of Parliament of the United Kingdom that altered local government of Scotland, local government in Scotland on 16 May 1975.
The act followed and largely impleme ...
, which established a two-tier structure of local government across Scotland comprising upper-tier regions and lower-tier districts. Ettrick and Lauderdale was one of four districts created within the
Borders region. The district covered the whole of the
historic county of
Selkirkshire
Selkirkshire or the County of Selkirk is a Counties of Scotland, historic county and registration county of Scotland. It borders Peeblesshire to the west, Midlothian to the north, Roxburghshire to the east, and Dumfriesshire to the south. It de ...
and parts of the neighbouring counties of
Berwickshire
Berwickshire (; ) is a historic county, registration county and lieutenancy area in south-eastern Scotland, on the English border. The county takes its name from Berwick-upon-Tweed, its original county town, which was part of Scotland at the ...
,
Midlothian
Midlothian (; ) is registration county, lieutenancy areas of Scotland, lieutenancy area and one of 32 council areas of Scotland used for local government. Midlothian lies in the east-central Lowlands, bordering the City of Edinburgh council ar ...
, and
Roxburghshire
Roxburghshire or the County of Roxburgh () is a historic county and registration county in the Southern Uplands of Scotland. It borders Dumfriesshire to the west, Selkirkshire and Midlothian to the northwest, and Berwickshire to the north. T ...
. The new district covered all of six former
districts
A district is a type of administrative division that in some countries is managed by the local government. Across the world, areas known as "districts" vary greatly in size, spanning regions or counties, several municipalities, subdivisions ...
and parts of another three districts, which were all abolished at the same time:
''From Selkirkshire:''
*
Galashiels
Galashiels (; , ) is a town in the Scottish Borders with a population of around 12,600. Its name is often colloquially shortened to "Gala". The town is a major commercial centre for the Borders region with extensive history in the textile in ...
Burgh
A burgh ( ) is an Autonomy, autonomous municipal corporation in Scotland, usually a city, town, or toun in Scots language, Scots. This type of administrative division existed from the 12th century, when David I of Scotland, King David I created ...
*
Selkirk Royal Burgh
A royal burgh ( ) was a type of Scottish burgh which had been founded by, or subsequently granted, a royal charter. Although abolished by law in 1975, the term is still used by many former royal burghs.
Most royal burghs were either created by ...
*North District
*South District
''From Berwickshire:''
*
Lauder
The former Royal Burgh of Lauder (, ) is a town in the Scottish Borders in the historic county of Berwickshire. On the Southern Upland Way, the burgh lies southeast of Edinburgh, on the western edge of the Lammermuir Hills.
Etymology
Alt ...
Royal Burgh
*West District (part, being the parishes of
Channelkirk, Lauder (
landward),
Legerwood
Legerwood is a village by the Eden Water, in the Scottish Borders area of Scotland, near Lauder, near the Southern Upland Way.
Legerwood Kirk is outside the village and has been there since at least 1127.
Places nearby include Boon Farm, Gordo ...
,
Earlston, and
Mertoun)
''From Midlothian:''
*Gala Water District (part, being the parishes of
Heriot and
Stow)
''From Roxburghshire:''
*
Melrose Burgh
*Melrose District (part, being the parishes of
Bowden,
Lilliesleaf,
Maxton, Melrose (landward), and
St Boswells)
The new district was named after
Ettrick Forest
Selkirkshire or the County of Selkirk is a Counties of Scotland, historic county and registration county of Scotland. It borders Peeblesshire to the west, Midlothian to the north, Roxburghshire to the east, and Dumfriesshire to the south. It de ...
(which was also an old alternative name for Selkirkshire), and
Lauderdale
Lauderdale is the valley of the Leader Water (a tributary of the River Tweed, Tweed) in the Scottish Borders. It contains the town of Lauder, as well as Earlston. The valley is traversed from end to end by the A68 road, A68 trunk road, which run ...
, being the valley of the
Leader Water (roughly corresponding to the area gained from Berwickshire). For
lieutenancy purposes, the last
lord-lieutenant
A lord-lieutenant ( ) is the British monarch's personal representative in each lieutenancy area of the United Kingdom. Historically, each lieutenant was responsible for organising the county's militia. In 1871, the lieutenant's responsibility o ...
of the county of Selkirkshire was made lord-lieutenant for the new district when the reforms came into effect in 1975.
In 1989 the district was enlarged by the addition of a small area around the hamlet of Brothershiels from the neighbouring district of Midlothian. The district had an estimated population of 35,490 in 1994.
The Borders region and its four districts were abolished in 1996, merging to form the present
Scottish Borders
The Scottish Borders is one of 32 council areas of Scotland. It is bordered by West Lothian, Edinburgh, Midlothian, and East Lothian to the north, the North Sea to the east, Dumfries and Galloway to the south-west, South Lanarkshire to the we ...
council area. A new lieutenancy area was created at the same time, called
Roxburgh, Ettrick and Lauderdale, covering the combined area of the abolished districts of Ettrick and Lauderdale and neighbouring
Roxburgh
Roxburgh () is a civil parish and formerly a royal burgh, in the historic county of Roxburghshire in the Scottish Borders, Scotland. It was an important trading burgh in High Medieval to early modern Scotland. In the Middle Ages it had at lea ...
.
The former district's name is still used in a variety of contexts:
*It forms part of the name of the
Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale Scottish Parliament constituency.
*The local young farmers club - Ettrick and Lauderdale JAC.
*Ettrick and Lauderdale Divisional Court, whose area corresponds to the former district, sits at Selkirk.
*Ettrick and Lauderdale Sports Council promotes interest and participation in sport in the area covered by the former Ettrick and Lauderdale District Council.
*
Roxburgh, Ettrick and Lauderdale is one of the
lieutenancy areas of Scotland
The lieutenancy areas of Scotland are the areas used for the ceremonial lord-lieutenants, the British monarch, monarch's representatives, in Scotland. The lord-lieutenants' titles chosen by the British monarch, monarch and his legal advisers are ...
.
Political control
The first election to the district council was held in 1974, initially operating as a shadow authority alongside the outgoing authorities until it came into its powers on 16 May 1975. Throughout the council's existence a majority of the seats were held by
independents:
The last
leader of the council
Leadership, is defined as the ability of an individual, group, or organization to "", influence, or guide other individuals, teams, or organizations.
"Leadership" is a contested term. Specialist literature debates various viewpoints on the co ...
, Drew Tulley, went on to be first leader of
Scottish Borders Council
The Scottish Borders is one of 32 council areas of Scotland. It is bordered by West Lothian, Edinburgh, Midlothian, and East Lothian to the north, the North Sea to the east, Dumfries and Galloway to the south-west, South Lanarkshire to the ...
after the 1996 reforms.
Premises
The district council was based at the
Council Chambers on Albert Place in
Galashiels
Galashiels (; , ) is a town in the Scottish Borders with a population of around 12,600. Its name is often colloquially shortened to "Gala". The town is a major commercial centre for the Borders region with extensive history in the textile in ...
. The building had originally been built in 1867 as the Burgh Chambers for the old Galashiels Town Council, with a large clock tower added in 1924–1927 which incorporates the town's war memorial. A modern extension was added to the rear of the building along Paton Street for the district council in 1976. Since the district council's abolition in 1996 the building has been an area office for Scottish Borders Council.
See also
*
Subdivisions of Scotland
For Local government in Scotland, local government purposes, Scotland is divided into 32 areas designated as "council areas" (), which are all governed by unitary authority, single-tier authorities designated as "councils". They have the opti ...
References
{{Authority control
Politics of the Scottish Borders
Districts of Scotland
1975 establishments in Scotland
1996 disestablishments in Scotland
States and territories established in 1975
States and territories disestablished in 1996