Guildries in Scotland were formed as a result of an Act of the Scottish Parliament in 1469, part of which said that Royal Burghs were to form from Burgess Members of the Trades and Merchant a Guildry which would then elect a Dean. This body would then look after the well being of the Burgh and as part of the Council be responsible for the regulation of trade and Taxes which were levied to be used for the benefit of the Burgh instead of being returned to the Crown.

The Guildry of Lanark was eventually formed on the 19th November 1658. The new Councils were elected in accordance with the Act of 1469 and met in the Tolbooth.

In 1833 the Civic Government Act (Scotland) was passed which gave voting rights to non Burgesses resident in the Burgh thus changing the make-up of the local Council yet again. This change in the Council also meant the removal of most of the powers from the Guildry. As a result of these changes the Guildry was now only involved nominally in most Scottish Burghs in the role of Dean of Guild Court, which was constituted by the Town Councils and dealt with building and alteration of premises etc. The Dean of Guild was also ex officio a Justice of the Peace until 1974.

In 1975 another Local Government reorganisation took place removing even this last historical link with the past and the Dean of Guild Court ceased to exist and this title was taken out of Lanark Local Government completely for the first time since 1658. More important to the Guildry was the change from Burgh Council to District Council which meant that there was now no Authority which had power to create Burgesses and this meant that unless the Guildry Constitution was altered there could be no new Members elected, the Burgess Ticket being a necessary part of the election procedure. To overcome this it was decided by the Guildry Members that the relevant clauses in the Constitution be rewritten keeping as close as possible to the original and still allowing new Members to be elected. So far this has proved successful with the current Membership standing at around 175 much the same as in 1975.

Today the Guildry is a Historical Organisation whose aims are to quote from the Constitution "To acknowledge and promote the Historical Traditions of the Guildry and the Royal Burgh of Lanark and to make Grants to local Schools and Organisations where applicable."

For more details please contact John A C Veitch, Clerk to the Guildry on 01555 664113