Dundee History Timeline
The History of Dundee Guildry, Nine Trades and Three United Trades
Within the history of Dundee, the various Trade Organisations were fully entwined with the City's life and development.
In order to get a full sense of timing, we have overlaid key events in the history of the Dundee Guildry, The Nine Trades, and the Three Trades
to give readers a sense of perspective in a timeline that you can see and fully understand.
This history runs from the beginning of these Trade Organisations in Dundee, until 1846, where their special rights
were abolished by an Act of Parliament.
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1199
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1846
1199
KING JOHN'S CHARTER GIVES RIGHT TO FORM GUILDS IN DUNDEE
Rights of Merchants and right to form a guild (The Guildry)
The town was recognised as a trading post by King John, as a favour to Earl David of Huntingdon, in the charter signed at Chateau Galliard, Les Andelys in Normandy, which granted all burgesses in Dundee the privilege of free trade throughout all of his lands apart from London. It should be noted that this charter was to all burgesses of burghs in Dundee, not to any particular guild or incorporation. If the guild was in existence, it was not by the blessing of King John.
1207
DUNDEE MERCHANTS TRADE WITH ENGLAND ENHANCED
In another charter, this time allowing the abbey of Arbroath freedom from tolls when doing business with the English, King John is said to have stated that Dundee and Perth merchants, who being the greatest carriers for the abbey, were to be under his protection.
1209
MERCHANT GUILDS GIVEN STATUTORY RIGHTS
A statute mentioned that merchants of the realm were to have their merchant guild, and that each guild was to be content with its own liberty, and by this we mean the merchant’s burgh of business and other parts where the crown might have granted the burgh such privileges, and were told not to usurp the liberty of another burgh. In this year, a Perth guild had been granted a charter by the King, while there is no evidence that the Dundee guild received a similar charter.
1249
DUNDEE TOWN COUNCIL APPEARS TO SET UP MERCHANT GUILD (THE GUILDRY)
McNeil & MacQueen (1996) state that the Dundee town council erected the merchant guild in 1249, with an act of parliament confirming this in 1289. This assertion is yet unconfirmed due to the Dundee City Archive lacks pertinent documents for the period (according to Annette Smith).
1325
MERCHANT GUILD WIN ENQUIRY INTO THEIR RIGHTS
An enquiry into the town’s privileges by Robert I, an enquiry brought to his attention by the burgh who appealed to the man to secure them the privileges they thought were already theirs by an earlier charter, and the jury of burgesses decided that Dundee enjoyed the privileges of having a guild in the reign of William I, which was between 1116-1214.
1424
ACT OF SCOTTISH PARLIAMENT PERMITS TRADES TO SET UP AS ASSOCIATIONS
Rights of the tradesmen and craftsmen to associate (The Trades). The Nine Trades, and later, the Three United Trades
An act of the Scottish Govt permitted Craftsmen/tradesmen to appoint Deacons to add structure to their existence and help their businesses be protected.
1496
`SCOTTISH PARLIAMENT REAFFIRMS TRADESMENS RIGHT AFTER FIGHT WITH MERCHANTS
Scottish parliament passed an act reaffirming craftsmen’s rights. This happened (hypothetically) when Dundee tradesmen roused the merchants for the need to obtain legal recognition of what they considered their ancient right and privileges.
1515
THE INCORPORATION OF NINE TRADES SET UP AND MERCHANTS LETTER FROM TOWN COUNCIL
The Nine trades of Dundee had to obtain a ‘Seal of Cause’ from the town council, which was a document allowing them to form incorporated bodies with an elected chairman/ president known as their deacon. Only town councils could make these grants. The merchants of Dundee, who were worried that not having one could potentially erode their rights and privileges, took action on the 15th October 1515 where they too received the council’s blessing: the Merchant’s Letter.
1846
END OF RIGHTS FOR TRADES AND GUILDRY
Act of Parliament abolished the trading rights of the Royal Burghs of Scotland, and the monopolistic privileges of all trade incorporations and merchant guilds.