THE sheriffdom of Clackmannan can be traced back centuries but an exact date when it came into being is unknown.

In late Medieval Scotland, and as a minister of the crown, the sheriff had numerous tasks including collecting rents, issuing writs and meting out justice in the name of the king and was his local representative. At this time, there were two King’s Justiciars, one covering the lands south of the River Forth, and the other the lands north of it. They were responsible for trials dealing with treason, murder, forgery, theft, rape and wilful fire-raising, as well as other minor offences, although treason tended to go to the Court of Parliament, a civil court. The other court to distribute justice belonged to the church which dealt with religious and moral matters. During the reign of David I, when there was an upsurge of sheriffs, an act was passed preventing bishops, abbots or earls to hold a trial without the presence of the local sheriff.

According to the Exchequer Rolls of 1263, Clackmannanshire rents were collected for lands at Menstrie and Sauchie by the Sheriff of Stirling. On the next roll three years later, a list of sheriffs still did not mention any in Clackmannanshire. It is not until 1304 there is a mention of one in the county. Following his conquest of Scotland, Edward I of England appointed his loyal supporter Sir William Bisset of Upsettington (now Ladykirk) in the Scottish Borders as Sheriff of Stirling and Clackmannan.

Bisset’s appointment was short lived and he was replaced the following year by Henry of Anand then Sir Malcolm Inverpefer, who was listed as Sheriff of Clackmannan in 1305, covering the villages of Clackmannan, owned by the Crown, Tullibody, owned by Cambuskenneth Abbey, and Menstrie, Tillicoultry and Dollar, which belonged to Dunfermline Abbey. The only time without one appears to have been during Oliver Cromwell’s invasion during the Civil War in the mid-1600s.

The sheriff acted as a criminal judge and was charged with maintaining peace. He was also a civil judge and carried out duties for the Crown, such as acting on royal warrants and orders, collecting fines and other revenue. Failing in this duty could be punishable by fine or imprisonment. Over and above this he was the military governor of Clackmannanshire and was charged with providing the men with an area to practice archery, and should war break out, he was to command the local militia. However, this military power became redundant with the union of the crowns in 1603.