North Britain
Encyclopedia
North Britain is a term which has been occasionally used, particularly in the 17th and 18th centuries, for either the northern part of Great Britain
or to Scotland
, which occupies the northernmost third of the island. Its counterpart is "South Britain
", generally used to refer to England and Wales
.
of the Kingdoms of England
and Scotland
. King James VI & I
used the terms "South Britain" and "North Britain" for England and Scotland respectively, most famously in his Proclamation of 1606 (here) establishing the first Union Flag
, where Scotland and England are not otherwise named:
This usage was repeated in Charles I
's Proclamation of 1634 on the use of the flag, though adding England and Scotland too for explanation:
After the Act of Union 1707, Scotland was sometimes referred to as "North Britain". In 1707, the Royal Scots Greys were renamed the "Royal North British Dragoons". In Rob Roy
(1817), Sir Walter Scott
refers to a Scottish person in England as a North Briton
, sometimes in the mouth of an English character but also in the authorial voice.
The term, particularly in adjective form, found use in the creation of the railway system. The North British Railway
operated from 1846 to 1923, leaving a later legacy in the name of the North British Hotel in Edinburgh
, which was renamed ‘The Balmoral Hotel’ in the 1980s. The North British Locomotive Company
existed from 1903 until its bankruptcy in 1962, again leaving a naming legacy in other organisations.
The name is found in other private enterprises, an example being the North British Distillery in Edinburgh, founding in 1885.
An example of its use in respect to northern Great Britain rather than Scotland can be found in the title of the North British Academy of Arts
which existed from 1908 to 1921 in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, a city in northern England
.
The North Briton
and New North Briton were newspapers in the 18th and 19th centuries, and in 1844 there was also a North British Advertiser. The North British Review was founded in 1844 by members of the Free Church of Scotland
as a Scottish "national review" for those unsatisfied with the secular Edinburgh Review
or the conservative Quarterly Review
. It continued until 1871 .
Particularly in the 19th century, "North Britain" or "N.B." was widely used for postal addresses in Scotland.
A post office leaflet was issued requesting people to avoid putting "NB" on envelopes as it might get confused with the London N8 postal district. However, by the early 20th century, any vestiges of popular usage of this style had declined. 'South Britain', the complementary style apportioned to England, had never seriously established itself, either north or south of the Anglo-Scottish border
.
'.
The universities of Aberdeen and Edinburgh, in addition to Heriot Watt University, organise a North Britain Student Forum on geoscience and engineering topics. There is a North British Rowing Club based in Edinburgh.
It is also used in prehistoric studies to delineate between geographical areas, taking in the idea that it is incorrect to pose modern boundaries onto past situations, such as the modern state of Scotland
onto the non-unified early tribes of North Britain of pre-history.
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
or to Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
, which occupies the northernmost third of the island. Its counterpart is "South Britain
South Britain
South Britain is a term which was occasionally used in the 17th and 18th centuries, for England and Wales in relation to their position in the southern half of the island of Great Britain...
", generally used to refer to England and Wales
England and Wales
England and Wales is a jurisdiction within the United Kingdom. It consists of England and Wales, two of the four countries of the United Kingdom...
.
Origin
Early uses of the designation have been noted after the 1603 Union of the CrownsUnion of the Crowns
The Union of the Crowns was the accession of James VI, King of Scots, to the throne of England, and the consequential unification of Scotland and England under one monarch. The Union of Crowns followed the death of James' unmarried and childless first cousin twice removed, Queen Elizabeth I of...
of the Kingdoms of England
Kingdom of England
The Kingdom of England was, from 927 to 1707, a sovereign state to the northwest of continental Europe. At its height, the Kingdom of England spanned the southern two-thirds of the island of Great Britain and several smaller outlying islands; what today comprises the legal jurisdiction of England...
and Scotland
Kingdom of Scotland
The Kingdom of Scotland was a Sovereign state in North-West Europe that existed from 843 until 1707. It occupied the northern third of the island of Great Britain and shared a land border to the south with the Kingdom of England...
. King James VI & I
James I of England
James VI and I was King of Scots as James VI from 24 July 1567 and King of England and Ireland as James I from the union of the English and Scottish crowns on 24 March 1603...
used the terms "South Britain" and "North Britain" for England and Scotland respectively, most famously in his Proclamation of 1606 (here) establishing the first Union Flag
Union Flag
The Union Flag, also known as the Union Jack, is the flag of the United Kingdom. It retains an official or semi-official status in some Commonwealth Realms; for example, it is known as the Royal Union Flag in Canada. It is also used as an official flag in some of the smaller British overseas...
, where Scotland and England are not otherwise named:
This usage was repeated in Charles I
Charles I of England
Charles I was King of England, King of Scotland, and King of Ireland from 27 March 1625 until his execution in 1649. Charles engaged in a struggle for power with the Parliament of England, attempting to obtain royal revenue whilst Parliament sought to curb his Royal prerogative which Charles...
's Proclamation of 1634 on the use of the flag, though adding England and Scotland too for explanation:
After the Act of Union 1707, Scotland was sometimes referred to as "North Britain". In 1707, the Royal Scots Greys were renamed the "Royal North British Dragoons". In Rob Roy
Rob Roy (novel)
Rob Roy is a historical novel by Walter Scott. It is narrated by Frank Osbaldistone, the son of an English merchant who travels first to the North of England, and subsequently to the Scottish Highlands to collect a debt stolen from his father. On the way he encounters the larger-than-life title...
(1817), Sir Walter Scott
Walter Scott
Sir Walter Scott, 1st Baronet was a Scottish historical novelist, playwright, and poet, popular throughout much of the world during his time....
refers to a Scottish person in England as a North Briton
North Briton
A North Briton is a term used for a person from North Britain, the northern parts of the islands of Great Britain. The adjective form of the name is North British....
, sometimes in the mouth of an English character but also in the authorial voice.
Historic use
North Britain is often used historically, referencing the time period before the formation of Scotland and England. As such, it forms a geographic, yet politically and culturally neutral description of the area.The term, particularly in adjective form, found use in the creation of the railway system. The North British Railway
North British Railway
The North British Railway was a Scottish railway company that was absorbed into the London and North Eastern Railway at the Grouping in 1923.-History:...
operated from 1846 to 1923, leaving a later legacy in the name of the North British Hotel in Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
, which was renamed ‘The Balmoral Hotel’ in the 1980s. The North British Locomotive Company
North British Locomotive Company
The North British Locomotive Company was created in 1903 through the merger of three Glasgow locomotive manufacturing companies; Sharp Stewart and Company , Neilson, Reid and Company and Dübs and Company , creating the largest locomotive manufacturing company in Europe.Its main factories were...
existed from 1903 until its bankruptcy in 1962, again leaving a naming legacy in other organisations.
The name is found in other private enterprises, an example being the North British Distillery in Edinburgh, founding in 1885.
An example of its use in respect to northern Great Britain rather than Scotland can be found in the title of the North British Academy of Arts
North British Academy of Arts
The North British Academy of Arts was an art institution of Newcastle upon Tyne in northern England.-Overview:The Academy, sometimes known as the North British Academy of Arts, Science, Literature, and Music, was located in the Claremount Buildings on the western side of Barras Bridge on the...
which existed from 1908 to 1921 in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, a city in northern England
Northern England
Northern England, also known as the North of England, the North or the North Country, is a cultural region of England. It is not an official government region, but rather an informal amalgamation of counties. The southern extent of the region is roughly the River Trent, while the North is bordered...
.
The North Briton
The North Briton
The North Briton was a radical newspaper published in 18th century London. The North Briton also served as the pseudonym of the newspaper's author, used in advertisements, letters to other publications, and handbills....
and New North Briton were newspapers in the 18th and 19th centuries, and in 1844 there was also a North British Advertiser. The North British Review was founded in 1844 by members of the Free Church of Scotland
Free Church of Scotland (1843-1900)
The Free Church of Scotland is a Scottish denomination which was formed in 1843 by a large withdrawal from the established Church of Scotland in a schism known as the "Disruption of 1843"...
as a Scottish "national review" for those unsatisfied with the secular Edinburgh Review
Edinburgh Review
The Edinburgh Review, founded in 1802, was one of the most influential British magazines of the 19th century. It ceased publication in 1929. The magazine took its Latin motto judex damnatur ubi nocens absolvitur from Publilius Syrus.In 1984, the Scottish cultural magazine New Edinburgh Review,...
or the conservative Quarterly Review
Quarterly Review
The Quarterly Review was a literary and political periodical founded in March 1809 by the well known London publishing house John Murray. It ceased publication in 1967.-Early years:...
. It continued until 1871 .
Particularly in the 19th century, "North Britain" or "N.B." was widely used for postal addresses in Scotland.
A post office leaflet was issued requesting people to avoid putting "NB" on envelopes as it might get confused with the London N8 postal district. However, by the early 20th century, any vestiges of popular usage of this style had declined. 'South Britain', the complementary style apportioned to England, had never seriously established itself, either north or south of the Anglo-Scottish border
Anglo-Scottish border
The Anglo-Scottish border is the official border and mark of entry between Scotland and England. It runs for 154 km between the River Tweed on the east coast and the Solway Firth in the west. It is Scotland's only land border...
.
Modern use
In current usage, the northern parts of Great Britain are often referred to simply as 'the North' though this term is also used to describe the northern parts of England. This usage is often prevalent in social commentary on the suggested 'North-South divideNorth-South divide in the United Kingdom
In England, the term North–South divide refers to the economic and cultural differences between Southern England and Northern England...
'.
The universities of Aberdeen and Edinburgh, in addition to Heriot Watt University, organise a North Britain Student Forum on geoscience and engineering topics. There is a North British Rowing Club based in Edinburgh.
It is also used in prehistoric studies to delineate between geographical areas, taking in the idea that it is incorrect to pose modern boundaries onto past situations, such as the modern state of Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
onto the non-unified early tribes of North Britain of pre-history.
See also
- North BritonNorth BritonA North Briton is a term used for a person from North Britain, the northern parts of the islands of Great Britain. The adjective form of the name is North British....
- South BritainSouth BritainSouth Britain is a term which was occasionally used in the 17th and 18th centuries, for England and Wales in relation to their position in the southern half of the island of Great Britain...
- North-South divide in England
- North BritishNorth BritishNorth British is an adjective used as an alternative to "Scottish", and sometimes includes the northern regions of England, which emphasises Britishness -- see North Britain. It may refer to:* North British Railway* North British Locomotive Company...