Originally Posted by
Jackonicko
An interesting Wikipedia link, thank you. I know this is ‘thread drift’ but I am honour and duty bound to reply …
We Berwickers are aware that the town has changed hands between Scotland and England thirteen times (so far).
It is one of the four original Scottish Burghs and became an English Borough with a different status to all the others.
The unique situation of divided loyalties and legal institutions lead to the town being included as a separate entity (along with Wales) in documents and ceremonies such as the coronation of English Monarchs.
As the town was last seized in 1482 under conditions of blackmail there are many who doubt the legal nature of its transition.
Of interest the river Tweed which runs through it is by legal definition a Scottish river in its entirety and all activity on it, and on either bank are subject to Scots law.
It only ceased to be a Royal Borough in 2009 as part of the wider structural changes to local government in England which saw the town being handed over to Northumberland County Council.
This was the latest bad move as the Geordie council have never understood Berwick and have neglected it ever since.
The story continues …