The ownership of Scotland's foreshore has been a matter of a prolonged
controversy. In the past, the debate centered on whether the shore was
owned by the Crown or by adjacent proprietors and on how, and by whom,
Crown-owned foreshore should be managed. Scotland's Foreshore tells
the story of the battle that took place during the nineteenth century
and into the early twentieth century between the Crown and private
proprietors over the ownership of the foreshore. Drawing on his expert
knowledge of law and its evolution, MacAskill provides new and valuable
insights into the foreshore controversy and the contest between
proprietors and the Crown and he discusses the important issues as to
the management of the foreshore, issues that culminated in
responsibility for the management of Scotland's Crown-owned foreshore
being devolved to the Scottish Parliament at a time when the question of
land ownership is central to Scottish political debate.