Ettrick and Lauderdale

Ettrick and Lauderdale (Eadaraig agus Srath Labhdair in Scottish Gaelic) was one of four local government districts in the Borders region of Scotland as well as a lieutenancy area from 1975 to 1996. History The district was created on 16 May 1975 under the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973, which established a two-tier structure of local government across Scotland comprising upper-tier regions and lower-tier districts. Ettrick and Lauderdale was one of four districts created within the Borders region. The district covered the whole of the historic county of Selkirkshire and parts of the neighbouring counties of Berwickshire, Midlothian, and Roxburghshire. The new district covered all of six former districts and parts of another three districts, which were all abolished at the same time: From Selkirkshire: Galashiels Burgh Selkirk Royal Burgh North District South District From Berwickshire: Lauder Royal Burgh West District (part, being the parishes of Channelkirk, Lauder (landward), Legerwood, Earlston, and Mertoun) From Midlothian: Gala Water District (part, being the parishes of Heriot and Stow) From Roxburghshire: Melrose Burgh Melrose District (part, being the parishes of Bowden, Lilliesleaf, Maxton, Melrose (landward), and St Boswells) The new district was named after Ettrick Forest (which was also an old alternative name for Selkirkshire), and Lauderdale, being the valley of the Leader Water (roughly corresponding to the area gained from Berwickshire). For lieutenancy purposes, the last lord-lieutenant of the county of Selkirkshire was made lord-lieutenant for the new district when the reforms came into effect in 1975.