This Thesis Has Been Submitted in Fulfilment of the Requirements for a Postgraduate Degree (E.G

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

This Thesis Has Been Submitted in Fulfilment of the Requirements for a Postgraduate Degree (E.G This thesis has been submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for a postgraduate degree (e.g. PhD, MPhil, DClinPsychol) at the University of Edinburgh. Please note the following terms and conditions of use: • This work is protected by copyright and other intellectual property rights, which are retained by the thesis author, unless otherwise stated. • A copy can be downloaded for personal non-commercial research or study, without prior permission or charge. • This thesis cannot be reproduced or quoted extensively from without first obtaining permission in writing from the author. • The content must not be changed in any way or sold commercially in any format or medium without the formal permission of the author. • When referring to this work, full bibliographic details including the author, title, awarding institution and date of the thesis must be given. Private Water Rights in Scots Law Jill J. Robbie Presented for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy The University of Edinburgh 2012 Table of Contents Table of Contents ......................................................................................................... i Acknowledgments ...................................................................................................... vi Declaration .............................................................................................................. viii Abstract ...................................................................................................................... ix List of Abbreviations .................................................................................................. x Chapter I – Introduction ............................................................................................ 1 A. Overview ............................................................................................................. 1 B. Methodology ........................................................................................................ 5 1. Doctrine ............................................................................................................ 5 2. Comparison ....................................................................................................... 8 C. Public and Private, Rights and Rivers ................................................................. 9 Chapter II – The Division of Things ....................................................................... 11 A. Introduction ....................................................................................................... 11 B. Roman Law ........................................................................................................ 12 C. Craig and Stair’s Division of Things ................................................................. 16 1. Craig ............................................................................................................... 17 (a) Craig’s Division of Things .................................................................................... 17 (b) Public Things ........................................................................................................ 18 (c) Public Things and the Regalia .............................................................................. 20 (d) Omissions from The Division ............................................................................... 21 2. Stair ................................................................................................................. 21 (a) Stair’s Adaptation of the Division of Things ........................................................ 21 (b)The Real Right of Commonty ................................................................................ 22 (c) The Limitation on Appropriation .......................................................................... 23 (d) Commonty and the Sea ......................................................................................... 25 (e) The Right of Passage ............................................................................................ 27 (f) Public Things and The Regalia ............................................................................. 27 (g) Omissions From The Division .............................................................................. 29 3. Comparison of Craig and Stair ....................................................................... 29 D. Later Institutional Writers ................................................................................. 30 1. Mackenzie, Forbes, Bankton and Erskine ...................................................... 30 (a) Common Things .................................................................................................... 31 (b) Public Things ........................................................................................................ 32 2. Kames ............................................................................................................. 33 3. Hume and Bell ................................................................................................ 34 (a) The Withering of Res Communes ......................................................................... 34 (b) The Rise of Regalia .............................................................................................. 36 E. Modern Scholarship ........................................................................................... 37 i F. The Modern Division of Things ......................................................................... 41 1. Things Exempt From Commerce ................................................................... 42 2. Communal Things .......................................................................................... 43 (a) Air ......................................................................................................................... 45 (b) Light ...................................................................................................................... 46 (c) The Sea .................................................................................................................. 46 (d) Running Water ...................................................................................................... 47 (e) Standing Water? .................................................................................................... 47 3. Public Rights and Communal Things ............................................................. 48 (a) Common Law Public Rights ................................................................................. 49 (i) Rights over the Sea ............................................................................................ 49 (ii) Rights over Public Rivers and Lochs ............................................................... 50 (iii) Rights over the Foreshore ................................................................................ 51 (iv) Rights over the Ports and Harbours ................................................................. 51 (v) Rights of Highway ............................................................................................ 52 (b) Statutory Public Rights ......................................................................................... 52 G. Conclusion ......................................................................................................... 54 Chapter III – The Ownership of Land Beneath Water ........................................ 56 A. Introduction ....................................................................................................... 56 B. Roman Law ........................................................................................................ 56 C. Scots Law ........................................................................................................... 58 1. Sea-Bed ........................................................................................................... 59 (a) A Dearth of Authority ........................................................................................... 59 (b) Modern Law .......................................................................................................... 61 2. Foreshore ........................................................................................................ 63 (a) Craig, Stair, Forbes and Bankton .......................................................................... 64 (b) Battles Over the Right to Kelp .............................................................................. 65 (c) The Extent of Regalian Rights .............................................................................. 68 (d) Summary of Potential Status of the Shore ............................................................ 72 (e) The Crown Asserts its Rights ............................................................................... 73 (f) The Modern Law ................................................................................................... 79 3. Rivers .............................................................................................................. 83 (a) Public Rivers ......................................................................................................... 83 (i) Navigable Rivers: Institutional Writers and Case Law ..................................... 83 (ii) Tidal Rivers and the Modern Law ...................................................................
Recommended publications
  • 2 Legal System of Scotland
    Legal System of 2 Scotland Yvonne McLaren and Josephine Bisacre This chapter discusses the formal sources of Scots law – answering the question of where the law gets its binding authority from. The chapter considers the role played by human rights in the Scottish legal system and their importance both for individuals and for businesses. While most com- mercial contracts are fulfilled and do not end up in court, some do, and sometimes businesses are sued for negligence, and they may also fall foul of the criminal law. Therefore the latter part of the chapter discusses the civil and criminal courts of Scotland and the personnel that work in the justice system. The Scottish legal system is also set in its UK and European context, and the chapter links closely with Chapters 3 and 4, where two rather dif- ferent legal systems – those in Dubai and Malaysia – are explored, in order to provide some international comparisons. The formal sources of Scots Law: from where does the law derive its authority? What is the law and why should we obey it? These are important ques- tions. Rules come in many different guises. There are legal rules and other rules that may appear similar in that they invoke a sense of obligation, such as religious rules, ethical or moral rules, and social rules. People live by religious or moral codes and consider themselves bound by them. People honour social engagements because personal relationships depend on this. However, legal rules are different in that the authority of the state is behind them and if they are not honoured, ultimately the state will step in 20 Commercial Law in a Global Context and enforce them, in the form of civil remedies such as damages, or state- sanctioned punishment for breach of the criminal law.
    [Show full text]
  • Aberdeen Student Law Review
    Aberdeen Student Law Review With thanks to our sponsors Stronachs LLP July 2011 Volume 2 www.abdn.ac.uk/law/aslr THE EDITORIAL BOARD 2010 - 2011 Managing Editor Leanne Bain Editors Alice Cannon Ross Douglas Emma Fraser Stuart Lee Bruce Mangeon Fairweather Charlotte Taylor Ryan T. Whelan Jennifer White FOREWORD BY THE HON . LORD WOOLMAN SENATOR OF THE COLLEGE OF JUSTICE Has the ASLR already reached its second volume? I am delighted that the brio of those involved in launching the project has been sustained. That is evident from the table of contents for the new volume. The topics range across legal history, oil and gas law and the law of evidence. In my view, volume two confirms that the ASLR is continuing to make a significant contribution to legal learning in Scotland. Stephen Woolman July 2011 INTRODUCTION TO VOLUME TWO In 1987 Professor Erwin N Griswold, former Dean of Harvard Law School, gave an insight into the history of the Harvard Law Review, the oldest student-led law review in the world. He acknowledged: Some people are concerned that a major legal periodical in the United States is edited and managed by students. It is an unusual situation, but it started that way, and it developed mightily from its own strength.1 I firmly believe in the strength of the student law review, and it is this belief that has shaped the endeavours of the editorial team during the past year The second year of a professional publication can be as difficult as the first, and this year has certainly not been without challenge.
    [Show full text]
  • (2017) Clarifying the Law on Assisted Suicide? Ross V Lord Advocate
    Chalmers, J. (2017) Clarifying the law on assisted suicide? Ross v Lord Advocate. Edinburgh Law Review, 21(1), pp. 93-98. (doi:10.3366/elr.2017.0391) This is the author’s final accepted version. There may be differences between this version and the published version. You are advised to consult the publisher’s version if you wish to cite from it. http://eprints.gla.ac.uk/130144/ Deposited on: 17 October 2016 Enlighten – Research publications by members of the University of Glasgow http://eprints.gla.ac.uk This article has been accepted for publication by Edinburgh University Press in the Edinburgh Law Review, and is expected to appear in the January 2017 issue. The Review is available online at http://www.euppublishing.com/loi/elr. Clarifying the Law on Assisted Suicide? Ross v Lord Advocate Gordon Ross, who died in January 2016,1 was a retired television producer who prior to his death resided in a care home, living with diabetes, heart problems, Parkinson’s disease and peripheral neuropathy.2 In Ross v Lord Advocate, Lord Carloway outlined the dilemma which Mr Ross faced in the following terms:3 He anticipates that there will come a time when he will not wish to continue living, as he will find his infirmity and consequent dependence on others intolerable. He would require assistance to commit suicide because of his physical state. He is apprehensive that anyone who assisted him would be liable to prosecution. He considers that he may require to take action to end his life himself, sooner than he would otherwise wish to, in order to avoid living on in an undignified and distressing condition.
    [Show full text]
  • For Scotland: a Hollywood Tagline, but a Holyrood Prerogative
    "FREEDOM!"' FOR SCOTLAND: A HOLLYWOOD TAGLINE, BUT A HOLYROOD PREROGATIVE Andrew Murdison* TABLE OF CONTENTS I. INTRODUCTION ......................................... 444 II. SCOTFISH LEGAL AND CONSTITUTIONAL HISTORY .............. 445 A. Early Influences and Development ....................... 445 B. The Union with EnglandAct of 1707 ..................... 453 III. RECENT CONSTITUTIONAL REFORM ......................... 462 A. The ScotlandAct of 1998 .............................. 462 B. The U.K. Supreme Court ............................... 465 C. The European Community .............................. 467 IV. ANALYSIS: PATHS TO INDEPENDENCE ......................... 468 V . CONCLUSION ........................................... 472 * J.D., University of Georgia School of Law, 2010; B.A.H., Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, 2007. BRAVEHEART (Paramount Pictures 1995). 443 444 GA. J. INT'L & COMP. L. [Vol. 38:443 I. INTRODUCTION Scotland is in a relatively new position within the United Kingdom (U.K.) and the global community. Having spent a millennium or more as a sovereign nation-with its own culture, economy, laws, and even monarchy-Scotland joined with England (and Wales) in creating the United Kingdom of Great Britain by ratifying the Articles of Union with the passage of the Union with England Act of 1707 (the Union).' Within a few years of the Union, however, Scots fought to restore their independence.2 For many, the fight continues today. With the U.K.'s massive constitutional overhaul of the past two decades,' including the re-establishment of the Scottish Parliament and the devolution to Scotland of some aspects of national governance and sovereignty (under the Scotland Act of 1998),5 the issue of independence has gained renewed significance.' In the 2007 Scottish parliamentary elections, for instance the Scottish National Party (SNP) made an incredible showing; a "central plank" of the SNP platform is a referendum for independence.7 Parallel developments across the U.K.
    [Show full text]
  • Foi-17-02802
    Annex B Deputy First Minister’s briefing for James Wolffe meeting on 3 March 2016: Meeting with James Wolffe QC, Dean of Faculty of Advocates 14:30, 3 March 2016 Key message Support efforts to improve the societal contribution made by the courts. In particular the contribution to growing the economy Who James Wolffe QC, Dean of Faculty of Advocates What Informal meeting, principally to listen to the Dean’s views and suggestions Where Parliament When Date Thursday 3 March 2016 Time 14:30 pm Supporting Private Office indicated no officials required officials Briefing and No formal agenda agenda Annex A: Background on Faculty and biography of Mr Wolffe Annex B: Key lines Annex C: Background issues Copy to: Cabinet Secretary for Justice Minister for Community Safety and Legal Affairs DG Learning and Justice DG Enterprise, Environment and Innovation Neil Rennick, Director Justice Jan Marshall [REDACTED] Nicola Wisdahl Cameron Stewart [REDACTED] John McFarlane, Special Adviser Communications Safer & Stronger St Andrew’s House, Regent Road, Edinburgh EH1 3DG www.scotland.gov.uk MEETING WITH JAMES WOLFFE QC ANNEX A Background The Faculty of Advocates is an independent body of lawyers who have been admitted to practise as Advocates before the Courts of Scotland. The Faculty has been in existence since 1532 when the College of Justice was set up by Act of the Scots Parliament, but its origins are believed to predate that event. It is self- regulating, and the Court delegates to the Faculty the task of preparing Intrants for admission as Advocates. This task involves a process of examination and practical instruction known as devilling, during which Intrants benefit from intensive structured training in the special skills of advocacy.
    [Show full text]
  • The New Civil Procedure Rules First Report
    The New Civil Procedure Rules First Report May 2017 Contents Foreword ........................................................................................................................... 1 Chapter 1. Introduction .................................................................................................... 3 Background to the rules rewrite project.............................................................................. 3 The Acts ........................................................................................................................ 3 The Rules Rewrite Working Group ................................................................................. 4 The Rules Rewrite Drafting Team and implementation of the 2014 Act .......................... 5 The Rules Rewrite Project ................................................................................................. 6 The scope of the project ................................................................................................. 6 Matters out with the scope of the project ........................................................................ 8 Purpose of this report ........................................................................................................ 9 Discussion papers .......................................................................................................... 9 Engagement with the public and the professions ......................................................... 10 Chapter 2. A statement of principle .............................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Partnership Law (LC 283; SLC 192)
    The Law Commission and The Scottish Law Commission (LAW COM No 283) (SCOT LAW COM No 192) PARTNERSHIP LAW Report on a Reference under Section 3(1)(e) of the Law Commissions Act 1965 Presented to the Parliament of the United Kingdom by the Lord High Chancellor by Command of Her Majesty Laid before the Scottish Parliament by the Scottish Ministers November 2003 Cm 6015 SE/2003/299 £xx.xx The Law Commission and the Scottish Law Commission were set up by the Law Commissions Act 1965 for the purpose of promoting the reform of the law. The Law Commissioners are: The Honourable Mr Justice Toulson, Chairman Professor Hugh Beale QC Mr Stuart Bridge Professor Martin Partington CBE Judge Alan Wilkie QC The Chief Executive of the Law Commission is Mr Michael Sayers and its offices are at Conquest House, 37-38 John Street, Theobalds Road, London WC1N 2BQ. The Scottish Law Commissioners are: The Honourable Lord Eassie, Chairman Professor Gerard Maher Professor Kenneth G C Reid Professor Joseph M Thomson Mr Colin J Tyre QC The Secretary of the Scottish Law Commission is Miss Jane L McLeod and its offices are at 140 Causewayside, Edinburgh EH9 1PR. The terms of this report were agreed on 10 October 2003. The text of this report is available on the Internet at: http://www.lawcom.gov.uk http://www.scotlawcom.gov.uk ii THE LAW COMMISSION THE SCOTTISH LAW COMMISSION PARTNERSHIP LAW CONTENTS Paragraph Page SECTION A: INTRODUCTORY (PARTS I – III) PART I: INTRODUCTION 1 Partnership law reform in its context 1.1 1 The role of partnerships in the business world
    [Show full text]
  • AJ Aitken a History of Scots
    A. J. Aitken A history of Scots (1985)1 Edited by Caroline Macafee Editor’s Introduction In his ‘Sources of the vocabulary of Older Scots’ (1954: n. 7; 2015), AJA had remarked on the distribution of Scandinavian loanwords in Scots, and deduced from this that the language had been influenced by population movements from the North of England. In his ‘History of Scots’ for the introduction to The Concise Scots Dictionary, he follows the historian Geoffrey Barrow (1980) in seeing Scots as descended primarily from the Anglo-Danish of the North of England, with only a marginal role for the Old English introduced earlier into the South-East of Scotland. AJA concludes with some suggestions for further reading: this section has been omitted, as it is now, naturally, out of date. For a much fuller and more detailed history up to 1700, incorporating much of AJA’s own work on the Older Scots period, the reader is referred to Macafee and †Aitken (2002). Two textual anthologies also offer historical treatments of the language: Görlach (2002) and, for Older Scots, Smith (2012). Corbett et al. eds. (2003) gives an accessible overview of the language, and a more detailed linguistic treatment can be found in Jones ed. (1997). How to cite this paper (adapt to the desired style): Aitken, A. J. (1985, 2015) ‘A history of Scots’, in †A. J. Aitken, ed. Caroline Macafee, ‘Collected Writings on the Scots Language’ (2015), [online] Scots Language Centre http://medio.scotslanguage.com/library/document/aitken/A_history_of_Scots_(1985) (accessed DATE). Originally published in the Introduction, The Concise Scots Dictionary, ed.-in-chief Mairi Robinson (Aberdeen University Press, 1985, now published Edinburgh University Press), ix-xvi.
    [Show full text]
  • The Scottish Criminal Justice System
    The Scottish Criminal Justice System Background The Act of Union 1707 between Scotland and England permitted Scotland to retain its separate legal system, which continued to be administered in Scotland. This meant that, even prior to devolution; the Scottish justice system had its own court system, its own police forces, its own prosecution service and its own prison and criminal justice social work services. The 1998 Scotland Act devolved a range of powers from Westminster to the reconvened Scottish Parliament, which included legislative powers to administer the Scottish legal system. Legislative powers over some areas, including terrorism and legal safeguards for human rights, remain reserved to the United Kingdom. In addition, the Supreme Court, which was established in October 2009, sits as a Scottish Court to hear appeals from civil cases arising in Scotland, and also hears criminal cases where human rights are at issue. However, in most cases, final appeals relating to criminal cases continue to be heard by Scottish courts (for more detail see Joyce, 2004 - book section available here). The 2008 Act also devolved executive powers to the Scottish Government. The Cabinet Secretary for Justice has overall responsibility for criminal justice in Scotland, which includes “the justice system, security, access to justice, criminal law and procedure, civil law, the police, the legal profession, courts, sentencing, prisons and prisoners, victims and witnesses, reducing reoffending, youth justice, criminal justice social work, community safety, fire and rescue services, anti-social behaviour, drugs policy, violence reduction, anti-sectarianism and liquor licensing” (Scottish Government website.) The Scottish Parliament is responsible for scrutinising the policy and legislative proposals of the Scottish Government, and the Justice Committee fulfils much of the scrutiny in relation to criminal justice.
    [Show full text]
  • Finlay Scots Lawyers Stairsoc
    This is a publication of The Stair Society. This publication is licensed by John Finlay and The Stair Society under Creative Commons license CC-BY-NC-ND and may be freely shared for non-commercial purposes so long as the creators are credited. John Finlay, ‘Scots Lawyers, England, and the Union of 1707’, in: Stair Society 62 [Miscellany VII] (2015) 243-263 http://doi.org/10.36098/stairsoc/9781872517292.4 The Stair Society was founded in 1934 to encourage the study and advance the knowledge of the history of Scots Law, by the publication of original works, and by the reprinting and editing of works of rarity or importance. As a member of the Society, you will receive a copy of every volume published during your membership. Volumes are bound in hardcover and produced to a high quality. We also offer the opportunity to purchase past volumes in stock at substantially discounted prices; pre-publication access to material in press; and free access to the complete electronic versions of Stair Soci- ety publications on HeinOnline. Membership of the society is open to all with an interest in the history of Scots law, whether based in the UK or abroad. Indivi- dual members include practising lawyers, legal academics, law students and others. Corporate members include a wide range of academic and professional institutions, libraries and law firms. Membership rates are modest, and we offer concessionary rates for students, recently qualified and called solicitors and advocates, and those undertaking training for these qualifica- tions. Please visit: http://stairsociety.org/membership/apply SCOTS LAWYERS, ENGLAND, AND THE UNION OF 1707 JOHN FINLAY I Support from the legal profession in Scotland was important in securing parliamentary union in 1707.1 At this time, the membership of the Faculty of Advocates in Edinburgh was greater than it had ever been, therefore their support, and that of the judges in the Court of Session, was worth gaining.
    [Show full text]
  • The Positive Prescription of Servitudes in Scots Law
    This thesis has been submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for a postgraduate degree (e.g. PhD, MPhil, DClinPsychol) at the University of Edinburgh. Please note the following terms and conditions of use: This work is protected by copyright and other intellectual property rights, which are retained by the thesis author, unless otherwise stated. A copy can be downloaded for personal non-commercial research or study, without prior permission or charge. This thesis cannot be reproduced or quoted extensively from without first obtaining permission in writing from the author. The content must not be changed in any way or sold commercially in any format or medium without the formal permission of the author. When referring to this work, full bibliographic details including the author, title, awarding institution and date of the thesis must be given. The Positive Prescription of Servitudes in Scots Law Alasdair SS Peterson Presented for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy University of Edinburgh 2016 Abstract This thesis examines the establishment of servitudes by positive prescription in Scots law, with particular reference to the doctrine’s conceptual development and the nature of possession required under section 3 of the Prescription and Limitation (Scotland) Act 1973. The thesis is divided into three main parts. The first provides a historical account of the law of positive prescription as applied to servitudes from the 17th century to the 20th century, culminating in its statutory expression in section 3(1) and (2) of the 1973 Act. The second considers what the 1973 Act means when it says that a servitude must be “possessed” for the prescriptive period.
    [Show full text]
  • Stair Society Publications
    STAIR SOCIETY Publications Various, An Introductory Survey of the Sources and Literature of Scots Law, Stair Society, 1 (1936) Native sources. Watson, W., The statutory law. Hannay, R.K., Early records of Council and Session, 1466-1659. Mckechnie, H., Practicks, 1469-1700. Leadbetter, J.S., The printed law reports, 1540-1935. Black, A.C., The institutional writers, 1600-1829. Cooper, T.M., Regiam majestatem and the auld lawes. Dickson, W.K., Privy Council records, 1545-1707. Inglis, J.A., Financial and administrative records, 1264-1724. Robertson, D. and Wood M., Burgh court records, 1319-1834. Malcolm, C.A., Sheriff and other local court records, 1385-1935. Walton, F.P., The courts of the officials and the commissary courts, 1512-1830. Grant, Sir Francis J., Presbyterian court records, 1560-1935. Anderson, D., Custom. Non-native sources. Smith, D.B., Roman law. Smith, D.B., Canon law. Girvan, J., Feudal law. MacGillivray, E.J., The influence of English law. Gardner, J.C., French and Dutch influences. Gardner, J.C., The influence of the law of Moses. Murray, C.D., The law merchant. Wakr, J.L., The law of nature. Indirect sources. Angus, W., Charters, cartularies and deeds, 1094-1700. Cameron, A.I., Vatican Archives, 1073-1560. Munro, R., Brocards. Anbgus, W., Notorial protocol books, 1469-1700. Wedderburn, E.M. and Lawrie, A.E., Style books. Brown, J.C., Scottish legal periodicals, 1829-1935. Special subjects. McMillan, A.R.G., Admiralty and maritime law. Cameron, J., Celtic law. Philip, J.R., Constitutional law and history. Gillon, S.A., Criminal law. Learney, T.I.
    [Show full text]