Administrative History | Oldmeldrum was created a burgh of barony in 1671 by King Charles II (1660 - 1685) in favour of Adam Urquhart, 2nd. of Meldrum. A burgh of barony was presided over by a feudal superior who had authority from the Crown to administer justice and to hold barony courts dealing with crimes and matters of good neighbourhood up to 1747 and thereafter solely matters of good neighbourhood.
Oldmeldrum was created a police burgh in 1893 under the Burgh Police (Scotland) Act 1892 (55 & 56 Vict., c. 55). Burgh administration was carried out by police commissioners who were responsible for the cleansing, lighting, policing and public health of the burgh. The main industry was a distillery.
Under the Town Councils (Scotland) Act 1900 (63 & 64 Vict., c. 49) the police commissioners were replaced by Oldmeldrum Town Council in January 1901. Oldmeldrum Town Council was abolished in 1975 under the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 (c. 65). Its powers were assumed by Grampian Regional Council and Gordon District Council. These in turn were replaced by Aberdeenshire Council in 1996 under the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1994 (c. 39). |