"That from and after the passing of the Act all such exclusive Privileges and Rights shall cease and it shall be lawful for any person to carry on or deal in Merchandize and to carry on or exercise and Trade or Handicraft in any burgh or elsewhere in Scotland".

The above quotation comes from the Act of Parliament Abolishing Exclusive Trading Privileges, 1846.

This ended the 'closed shop' which the Incorporation had exercised for almost two centuries. Membership was no longer dependent on occupation. The Cooper and Tailor Craft which had lapsed were revived.

The Incorporated Trades now attracted members of the middle class. Their Annual Function was held in the Eglinton Arms. By 1908 this function had been moved to the Town Hall with the councillors as guests.

Office bearers, as the list below illustrates, were no longer attached to appropriate trades.

Two men were largely responsible for the survival of the Incorporated Trades into the 20th century - Thomas Hall and Harry Lumsden. It is through Thomas Hall's enthusiasm for the old crafts and wide ranging knowledge of the old trade practices that the Incorporation is flourishing today. In 1922 a new constitution for the Convener's Court was drawn up and at the same time the Skinners rejoined the Incorporation. An anthem was composed by John Hall and Harry Lumsden to mark the revival.