Whatever the type of town, the way it was administered, the buildings in it, and the daily lives of its residents were much the same. At the heart of the town stood the kirk and the tolbooth. Nearby the main street would usually be wide enough to serve as a market place. By the later eighteenth century, however, although markets were still important, they were increasingly being supplemented by specialised retail shops.
Many town centres were 'improved' during the eighteenth century. Most churches and tolbooths were rebuilt, and many private houses as well. Streets were widened, and new streets laid out. They were cleaned, and lighting provided in the town centre. Some towns had a simple piped water supply, and by the early nineteenth century gas was beginning to be introduced for street lighting. The visual evidence reflects various aspects of urban life.
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Administration |
Charity |
Economic Life
Education
Religion