Sheriff of Ayr facts for kids

The Sheriff of Ayr was a very important royal official in Ayr, Scotland, starting way back in 1221. Their main job was to make sure everyone followed the rules and to bring people who broke the law to justice.

For a long time, these sheriff jobs were passed down through families, like a family business. This changed after 1748, especially after a big event called the Jacobite uprising of 1745. After that, the old family sheriffs were replaced by new ones called "sheriff-deputes." These new sheriffs were paid a salary and had to be qualified lawyers, known as advocates in Scotland.

In 1946, the area of Bute was added to Ayr, creating a new sheriffdom called Ayr and Bute. This new area lasted until 1975. After that, it became part of a larger sheriffdom known today as South Strathclyde, Dumfries and Galloway.

Who Were the Sheriffs of Ayr?

The role of Sheriff of Ayr existed for many centuries, with different people holding the position. They were responsible for keeping the peace and making sure laws were followed in the Ayr area.

Some of the early sheriffs included:

• John of Moray (around 1170)
• Reginald de Crawford (from 1221)
• Hugh Crawford (who passed away in 1265)
• Robert de Brus (in 1303), who later became a famous king of Scotland.

Over the years, the job was held by many important families and individuals, including members of the Campbell family of Loudoun, who used Loudoun Castle as a base from the 16th century. Sundrum Castle was also used by sheriffs from the 14th century.

The Change to Sheriff-Deputes (After 1748)

After 1748, the way sheriffs were chosen changed a lot. Instead of being a family job, they became professional lawyers appointed to the role. These new "Sheriffs-Depute" were:

• William Duff (1747–1775)
• William Craig, Lord Craig (1787–1792)
• Edward McCormick (1793–1814)
• Archibald Bell (1815–1852)
• Sir David Brand (1885–1908)
• Arthur Paterson Duffes (1937–1946)

Sheriffs of Ayr and Bute (1946-1975)

When Ayr and Bute joined together in 1946, new sheriffs were appointed for this larger area. They continued the work of keeping law and order.

• Arthur Paterson Duffes (1946–1948)
• Henry Wallace Guthrie (1948–1949)
• Christopher William Graham Guest (1952–1954)
• Charles James Dalrymple Shaw (1954–1957)
• Ian MacDonald Robertson (1961–1966)
• Robert Reid (1973–1975)

The sheriffdom of Ayr and Bute was eventually replaced in 1975 by the current sheriffdom of South Strathclyde, Dumfries and Galloway.

See also

• Historical development of Scottish sheriffdoms