: So which came first the Northumbrian Small Pipes or the Highland pipes.

There are many books about the history of bagpipes. Hugh Cheape's might be a good start.

Highland pipes are older, evolved from an English pipe sometime before 1500 and taking their final form (with the bass drone) around 1750. Northumbrian pipes were developed in the late 18th century, based on smallpipes from both sides of the Border. The uilleann pipes were developed in the same place at the same time by the same makers, elaborating on the pastoral pipe, which was also found both sides of the Border. Neither the smallpipe nor the pastoral pipe was descended from the Highland pipe. The bellows was a French idea, adapted to all three types of pipe though it didn't catch on in a big way for Highland types (when so applied the result is known as a Border pipe).

The oldest pipes whose existence we know of from Scotland (and England) weren't like any of these; they were a common pan-European type best known these days in the early music scene. See Pete Stewart's book "The Day it Dawes" for a description and a repertoire. They were the least national instrument you could imagine, varying litle from Portugal to Bulgaria.