| Administrative History | 1989 marked Wick’s 400th anniversary as a Royal Burgh. In 1589 King James VI granted Wick a crown precept of sasine establishing it as a royal burgh (see BW/3/5).
A royal burgh was a type of Scottish burgh which had been founded by, or subsequently granted, a royal charter. Although abolished in 1975, the term is still used in many of the former burghs.
Most royal burghs were seaports, and each was either created by the crown, or upgraded from another status, such as burgh of barony. As discrete classes of burgh emerged the royal burghs, originally distinctive by virtue of the fact they were on royal lands, acquired a monopoly of foreign trade.
An important document for each burgh was its burgh charter, creating the burgh or confirming the rights of the burgh as laid down (perhaps verbally) by a previous monarch. Each royal burgh was represented in the Parliament of Scotland and could appoint bailies with wide powers in civil and criminal justice.
Quatercentenary celebration events took place throughout 1989 at which the chosen Quatercentenary Queen, Valerie Sutherland, was in frequent attendance along with her Maid of Honour, Tracy Sutherland.
This digitised photograph album contains photographs of events attended by the Quatercentenary Queen Valerie Sutherland and Maid of Honour Tracy Sutherland
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