Chalking the Door

Chalking the Door, a mode of warning tenants to remove from burghal tenements, long known and still in use in Scotland. It is thus described by Hunter in his work on Landlord and Tenant: A burgh-officer, in presence of witnesses, chalks the most patent door forty days before Whitsunday, 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. See EJECTMENT.