View of City Chambers from Parliament Square

Category

Library Item

Item no

2807

Title

View of City Chambers from Parliament Square showing Mercat Cross and the Doric porch of Police Chambers

Description

A man sits on a bench in the shade and looks across the small square to where a large Mercat Cross stands. Behind the cross, the city chambers stands with its arched, column entrance into its courtyard. A number of cars are parked on the side of the street, and people are busy going about their business.

Artist / maker

Jackman, S. G.

Date

1986

Size

15 x 21 cm

Type

Photograph

Location

Edinburgh and Scottish Collection

The mercat cross was the central meeting place of merchants and business men in the centre of the city's official market place. The Royal Mile mercat cross originates to the 14th century.

City Chambers was designed by John Adam and built between 1753-61. It was intended as premises for a merchant exchange, but this was not entirely successful and the building was overtaken by Edinburgh's Council during the 19th century. The council instigated significant extensions to the building in the years around 1900. The building was constructed over several Old Town closes. One of these subterranean streets, Mary King's Close, is now open to the public.

Edinburgh's Mercat Cross stands at the east end of St Giles Kirk on the High Street. The original cross stood nearby but was dismantled in 1756 and taken to Drum House. Its previous position is marked by a paved cross. William Gladstone instigated the erection of the current cross in 1885, which incorporates some parts from its much larger predecessor. The Mercat Cross is the traditional centre of the city market, a meeting place for merchants, a place of execution and the site of official proclamations.

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Related subjects

Government > Local > City and town halls

People > Adults > Men

People > Adults > Women

Places > Scotland > Edinburgh

Places > United Kingdom > Scotland

Transport > Land > Cars

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