Chalking the door

Chalking the door is a Scottish custom of landlord and tenant law.

In former days the law was that a burgh officer, in presence of witnesses, chalks the most patent door forty days before Whit Sunday, having made out an execution of chalking, in which his name must be inserted, and which must be subscribed by himself and two witnesses.

This ceremony now proceeds simply on the verbal order of the proprietor. The execution of chalking is a warrant under which decree of removal will be pronounced by the burgh court, in virtue of which the tenant may be ejected on the expiration of a charge of six days.

 This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed (1911). Encyclopædia Britannica (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press.