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Subject = "Clocks and clock towers"
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Market Cross and municipal buildings, Aberdeen
Valentine, James, 1865, Photograph
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of 316
Market Cross and municipal buildings, Aberdeen
Market Cross and municipal buildings, Aberdeen
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Category
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Item no
24464
Title
Market Cross and municipal buildings, Aberdeen
Description
Aberdeen's market cross stands as a circular carved monument, with a stone pillar standing on its roof and a unicorn at the top of the pillar. The market cross stands to the right of the picture and a cobbled street with a number of stone buildings running down either side can be seen. To the far end a small square building sits with a collection of horse-drawn carriages waiting in front of it.
Artist / maker
Valentine, James
Date
1865
Size
1.6 x 17.5 cm
Type
Photograph
Location
Edinburgh and Scottish Collection
The photo shows Castle Street and the Market [better known by its Scots term Mercat] cross, in Aberdeen. The cross sits in the middle of an area known as the Castlegate and is a circular, stone monument with carved stone pictures of Scottish kings set around it and a unicorn placed atop it.
The present market cross dates from 1686. There were two market crosses prior to this one, one in the east end and one in the west ends of the Castlegate which served as a marketplace. This cross was moved to its current location in 1842.
As well as distinguishing the area as a market place, the market cross was used as a gathering point for people of the town to meet when events, both good and bad were occurring. It is said that in 1511, the visit of Queen Margaret to Aberdeen saw folk celebrate by meeting at the cross where wine flowed from the centre column for people to drink. On moving the cross to its present site it was said that a pipe was found in the centre column of the cross, from where the wine would have flowed. Punishments were often meted out at the cross as well. All proclamations of the town tended to be made at the market cross; this was a similar practice in most towns in the country.
Exhibitions with this item
James Valentine: Photographs of Scottish Scenery
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Related subjects
Architecture
>
Architectural features
>
Clocks and clock towers
Architecture
>
Monuments
>
Market Crosses
Architecture
>
Monuments
>
Statues
Places
>
Scotland
>
Aberdeenshire
Places
>
United Kingdom
>
Scotland
Transport
>
Infrastructure
>
Street lights
Transport
>
Infrastructure
>
Streets
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