Burgh facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Burgh
Burgh
Population	191
District	Suffolk Coastal
Shire county	Suffolk
Region	East
Country	England
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Police	Suffolk
Fire	Suffolk
Ambulance	East of England
EU Parliament	East of England
List of places UK England Suffolk 52°07′00″N 1°15′28″E / 52.116611°N 1.2579100°E / 52.116611; 1.2579100

Burgh is a small village and civil parish in Suffolk Coastal, Suffolk, England. In 2001, about 191 people lived there. Even though it's a small village now, its name, "Burgh," has an interesting history.

What is a Burgh?

The word "Burgh" has been used for a very long time, especially in Scotland and some parts of England. It usually meant a town or a settlement that had special rights. These rights were often given by a king or queen.

Why were Burghs special?

Burghs were important because they had their own local government. They could also hold markets and fairs, which helped them become busy trading centers. This made them different from regular villages or rural areas.

Types of Burghs

There were different kinds of burghs:

• Royal Burghs: These were the most important. They were created by a king or queen and had many special rights. They often had strong walls to protect them.
• Burghs of Barony: These were created by a powerful lord or baron, not directly by the king. They still had some trading rights, but usually fewer than royal burghs.
• Burghs of Regality: These were similar to burghs of barony but had even more legal power.

Burghs Today

Today, the term "Burgh" is mostly used for historical reasons. The special legal powers these towns once had are now part of the wider local government system in the United Kingdom. However, many towns still proudly use "Burgh" in their names or seals to show their long history.

What is a Civil Parish?

Burgh is also a civil parish. A civil parish is the smallest type of local government area in England.

What Civil Parishes Do

Civil parishes have a local council, called a parish council. This council looks after local matters like:

• Local parks and playgrounds
• Village halls
• Footpaths and public spaces
• Giving advice on planning applications

Parish councils are run by people from the local community. They work to make their area a better place to live.

Images for kids

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  The Royal Burgh of Culross in Fife is a historic example.

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  This is the seal of Haddington town, showing its status as a burgh.

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  The reverse side of the burgh seal of Crail, a Fife fishing port.

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  A sign in Linlithgow, Scotland, showing its burgh heritage.

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  The Council Chamber in Leith, which was an autonomous burgh until 1920.