Aspects of the population geography of the eastern border counties of Scotland, 1850-1967

Abstract

This thesis seeks to study the population of the south east Scotland counties of Berwick, Roxburgh and Selkirk from 1851 to the present day, and to establish the significance of the interrelationship between changing demographic structure on the one hand and employment and social provision on the other.The major characteristic of the population of the area is that it has declined throughout the period, and by considering the various possible components of population change, fertility, mortality and migration, it was clearly established that the last named was instrumental in producing this feature. The volume of net migration was computed, an idea of the gross amount of movement involved obtained from various sources, and the origins and destinations of movers was determined. From this part of the study it was evident that:1) migration was a characteristic of both burghal and landward areas2) net migration is only a small proportion of the gross movement3) destinations of out-migrants were mainly Central Scotland and north-east England: origins of in-migrants were mainly rural, particularly from south- west Scotland.4) migration is age selective: the proportion of persons aged 15-25 who undertook migration movements was at least twice as high as the proportion among people of all other age groups together, in each ten-year period from 1851.5) out-migration is female dominated in the 15-20 age group out-migration is male dominated in the 20-25 age groupCorrelation of demographic trends with changing employment conditions, particularly in the main industries of the area was then made, and a close relationship between economic changes and population changes was established. Case studies of twelve parishes in the area were undertaken and by studying population, economic and social changes in these small units over the 1851-196? period, it was possible to find out whether population change caused economic change or vice versa. A sample survey of the population in each parish was made, to obtain information on movement both of those in the parish, and of close relatives who may have left, and by so doing to ascertain the main reasons for living in the area, and moving to or from it at the present time.