The Old Cross

Skene, James, 1827, Lithograph

The Old Cross

Category

Library Item

Item no

618

Title

The Old Cross

Description

Heralds wearing hats and cloaks stand on top of the Mercat Cross. One holds a scroll another is blowing a trumpet. A large column capped with a unicorn rises from the centre of the structure. Flying from the unicorn is a saltire flag. The structure has columns and arches along its base. On the cobbled street below people are watching, a dog wanders nearby. Buildings in the background have smoke rising from their chimneys.

Artist / maker

Skene, James

Date

1827

Size

18 x 13 cm.

Type

Lithograph

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. 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.

The word cobble has been used here to help with searching, an alternative term is sett. Sett stones describe both the type of stone and the method in which they are used.

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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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(55°56′59″N, 3°11′24″W)

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