Mercat Cross at the Drum

Category

Library Item

Item no

3539

Title

Mercat Cross at the Drum

Description

A mercat cross at the Drum, Gilmerton, Edinburgh stands on a lawn with trees in the background. Rising up from the base is a column and a carved stone capital with a cross on top.

Artist / maker

Keith, Thomas

Date

1856

Size

28 x 22.5 cm

Type

Paper negative

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.

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Related subjects

Business > Service industry > Mercat Crosses

Places > Edinburgh areas > Gilmerton

Places > Scotland > Edinburgh

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