Ettrick and Lauderdale facts for kids

Ettrick and Lauderdale (Eadaraig agus Srath Labhdair in Scottish Gaelic) was a special area in Scotland that had its own local government from 1975 to 1996. It was one of four districts in the Scottish Borders region. Think of it like a smaller area within a bigger region, where local decisions were made. It was also a "lieutenancy area," which is a place where the King or Queen's representative (called a Lord-Lieutenant) looks after things.

A Look Back: How Ettrick and Lauderdale Began

This district was created on May 16, 1975. This happened because of a law called the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973. This law changed how local areas in Scotland were managed. It set up a two-part system: bigger areas called "regions" and smaller areas inside them called "districts." Ettrick and Lauderdale was one of these new districts within the Scottish Borders region.

The Ettrick and Lauderdale district covered the whole area of an older county called Selkirkshire. It also included parts of nearby counties like Berwickshire, Midlothian, and Roxburghshire. The new district took over from several older local areas, which were all closed down at the same time.

Where Did the Name Come From?

The district was named after two important places:

• Ettrick Forest: This was an old forest area, and it was also another name for Selkirkshire.
• Lauderdale: This is the valley of the Leader Water. This part roughly matched the area that was added from Berwickshire.

When the changes happened in 1975, the person who was the King's representative for Selkirkshire became the representative for the new Ettrick and Lauderdale district.

Changes Over Time

In 1989, the district got a little bit bigger. A small area around a tiny village called Brothershiels was added from the nearby Midlothian district. By 1994, about 35,490 people lived in Ettrick and Lauderdale.

The End of the District

The Borders region and its four districts, including Ettrick and Lauderdale, were all closed down in 1996. They joined together to form the single Scottish Borders council area that exists today. A new lieutenancy area was also created at that time, called Roxburgh, Ettrick and Lauderdale. This new area covered the combined areas of the old Ettrick and Lauderdale district and its neighbour, Roxburgh.

Where You Still Hear the Name

Even though the district doesn't exist anymore, its name is still used in a few ways:

• It's part of the name for a Scottish Parliament area: Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale.
• The Ettrick and Lauderdale Divisional Court, which handles legal cases, meets in Selkirk. Its area is the same as the old district.
• The Ettrick and Lauderdale Sports Council helps people get involved in sports in the area that used to be the district.
• Roxburgh, Ettrick and Lauderdale is still one of the official lieutenancy areas in Scotland.

Who Was in Charge? Political Control

The first election for the district council happened in 1974. The council officially started its work on May 16, 1975. For its entire existence, most of the people on the council were independents. This means they didn't belong to a specific political party.

The last person who led the Ettrick and Lauderdale council was Drew Tulley. After the changes in 1996, he became the first leader of the new Scottish Borders Council.

Where the Council Worked: The Main Building

The Ettrick and Lauderdale district council had its main office at the Council Chambers on Albert Place in Galashiels. This building was originally built in 1867 for the old Galashiels Town Council. A tall clock tower was added between 1924 and 1927, which also includes the town's war memorial.

In 1976, a new, modern part was added to the back of the building for the district council. Since the district council was closed in 1996, the building has been used as a local office for the Scottish Borders Council.

See also

• Subdivisions of Scotland