George Craig of Galashiels

What the letter books of a Galashiels lawyer reveal about the life of his community

Presents the first detailed historical study of a local lawyer in Scotland
Draws on never-before-seen correspondence, which covers 20 years in the working life of Craig and his associates
Provides fascinating insights into the world of the bank agent, local urban and economic history and legal practice in the 19th century

What was it like to practise as a lawyer and bank agent in a rural Scottish community on the cusp of modernity? George Craig was Sir Walter Scott's local banker, a writer, insurance agent, election agent and baron bailie of Galashiels. Based on thousands of recently discovered letters, this is the first study of a provincial nineteenth-century Scots lawyer and the community he served.

Craig's many correspondents, from manufacturers, bankers, lawyers and law agents in London, Dublin, Jamaica and the US to weavers, tenant farmers and town clerks reflect Borders life in all its intensity and his letters paint a detailed picture of everyday existence. His story affords a fascinating glimpse of legal practice and estate management across the Borders, during a time of economic and political change, as Galashiels grew from a village into an important manufacturing centre.