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Other Burghs

Other Burghs

The earliest burghs in Scotland were created in the 12th century under King David I. The chosen towns enjoyed special privileges which were awarded by means of charter. Privileges included being allowed to make (and enforce) localised laws, to allow local merchants to set up trading consortiums and hold local markets, the town could elect it's own town council and decide to fortify their town the way they saw fit - usually by encircling the town with a wall, burghs could even raise their own money through tolls. Most of these new burghs were close to Royal Castles or important abbeys. David I may have seen it as a way of enforcing his rule over some of the more lawless parts of his kingdom.

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