Mercat Cross and City Chambers

Category

Library Item

Item no

2864

Title

Mercat Cross with City Chambers in the background, Edinburgh

Description

The City Chambers and Mercat Cross on the High Street, Edinburgh. The Mercat Cross has coats of arms carved around the base and a unicorn sculpture at the top of the column. It has heraldic symbols carved into the stonework. The buildings of the City Chambers with its arched entranceway can be seen behind.

Artist / maker

Chrystal, Francis M.

Date

1910

Size

16.1 x 21 cm

Type

Photograph

Location

Edinburgh and Scottish Collection

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. 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.

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.

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Related subjects

Business > Service industry > Mercat Crosses

Government > Local > City and town halls

Places > Edinburgh areas > Old Town

Places > Edinburgh areas > Royal Mile

Places > Scotland > Edinburgh

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