| Administrative 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. |