Mercat cross

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

A mercat cross is a market cross found in Scottish cities and towns where trade and commerce was a part of economic life. It was originally a place where merchants would gather, and later became the focal point of many town events such as executions, announcements and proclamations. To this day several important announcements and proclamations are still ceremonially made at the Mercat Cross in Edinburgh, including the calling of general elections and the succession of new monarchs.

Despite the name, the typical mercat cross is not actually cruciform - variations range from a short pole stuck in the ground to the grand pillar rising out of the "cross house" in Edinburgh.

Scottish emigrants to countries such as Canada and especially Australia brought the mercat cross with them, and several cities in the new world have or used to have them in the town centre.

[edit] List of places with mercat crosses

A-E	F-L	M-Z
Aberdeen Aberlady Abernethy, Perth and Kinross Anstruther Banff Biggar Brechin Burntisland Callander Campbeltown Carnwath Clackmannan Cockburnspath Crail Crieff Cullen Culross Cumnock Cupar Dingwall Dornoch Doune Duffus Dumfries Dundee Dunfermline Dunkeld Duns Edinburgh	Falkirk Fettercairn Forfar Forres Fraserburgh Galashiels Gifford Glasgow Haddington Inveraray Inverbervie Inverkeithing Inverness Irvine Jedburgh Kilmarnock Kincardine on Forth Kinross Kirkcaldy Kirkcudbright Kirkwall Leven Linlithgow Luss	Meikleour Melrose Moffat Moniaive Montrose Musselburgh North Berwick Oldhamstock Ormiston Peebles Perth Preston Prestonpans Prestwick Rutherglen St Andrews Scone Palace South Queensferry Stirling Stonehaven Tain Thornhill Turriff Whithorn Wick

[edit] External links

• Mercat Cross
• Gazetteer for Scotland
• Rampant Scotland
• Glasgow Mercat Cross
• The Tolbooth and the Mercat Cross, Stirling