Mercat cross

A mercat cross is a market cross

Market cross

A market cross is a structure used to mark a market square in market towns, originally from Western European architecture. Market crosses can be found in most market towns in Britain, with those in Scotland known as "mercat crosses". British emigrants often installed such crosses in their new...

 found in Scottish

Scotland

Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...

 cities and towns where trade and commerce was a part of economic life. It was originally a place where merchant

Merchant

A merchant is a businessman who trades in commodities that they do not produce themselves, in order to earn a profit.Merchants can be of two types:# A wholesale merchant operates in the chain between producer and retail merchant...

s would gather, and later became the focal point of many town events such as executions, announcements and proclamations. To this day several important announcements and proclamations are still ceremonially made at the Mercat Cross in Edinburgh

Edinburgh

Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland. It is the second largest Scottish city, after Glasgow, and the seventh-most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council is one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas....

, including the calling of general elections and the succession of new monarch

Monarch

A monarch is the person who heads a monarchy, a form of government in which the country or entity usually ruled or controlled by an individual who usually rules for life or until abdication...

s.

Despite the name, the typical mercat cross is not actually cruciform

Cruciform

Cruciform means having the shape of a cross.- Cruciform Plan :This is a common description of Christian churches. In Early Christian, Byzantine and other Eastern Orthodox forms of church architecture this is more likely to mean a tetraconch plan, a Greek cross, with arms of equal length or, later,...

- variations range from a short pole stuck in the ground to the grand pillar rising out of the "cross house" in Edinburgh.

Scottish emigrants to countries such as Canada

Canada

Canada is a country occupying most of northern North America, extending from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west and northward into the Arctic Ocean...

 and especially Australia

Australia

Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the continental mainland , the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans...

 brought the mercat cross with them, and several cities in the new world

New World

The New World is one of the names used for the non-Afro-Eurasian parts of the Earth, specifically the Americas and possibly Australia. When the term originated in the late 15th century, the Americas were new to the Europeans, who previously thought of the world as consisting only of Europe, Asia,...

 have or used to have them in the town centre.

List of places with mercat crosses

A-E	F-L	M-Z
Aberdeen Aberdeen Aberdeen is Scotland's third most populous city and one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. It has an official population estimate of .Nicknames include the Granite City, the Grey City and the Silver City with the Golden Sands... Aberlady Aberlady Aberlady is a coastal village in the Scottish council area of East Lothian. On Aberlady Bay, it is five miles northwest of Haddington and approximately 18 miles east of Edinburgh, to which it is linked by the A198 Dunbar - Edinburgh road.Aberlady Parish Church was opened in 1887... Abernethy, Perth and Kinross Anstruther Anstruther Anstruther is a small town in Fife, Scotland. The two Anstruthers are divided by a small stream called Dreel Burn. Anstruther lies 9 miles south-southeast of St Andrews... Banff Banff and Macduff Banff and Macduff are neighbouring towns situated on Banff Bay, both of which are former burghs in Aberdeenshire, Scotland... Beauly Beauly Beauly , is a town of the Scottish county of Highland, on the River Beauly, 10 miles west of Inverness by the Far North railway line. Its population was measured as 855 in 1901... Biggar Biggar, South Lanarkshire Biggar is a town and former burgh in South Lanarkshire, Scotland. It is situated in the Southern Uplands, near the River Clyde, around 30 miles from Edinburgh along the A702. The closest towns are Lanark and Peebles, and as such Biggar serves a wide rural area... Brechin Brechin Brechin is a former royal burgh in Angus, Scotland. Traditionally Brechin is often described as a city because of its cathedral and its status as the seat of a pre-Reformation Roman Catholic diocese , however this status was never officially recognised... Burntisland Burntisland Burntisland is a town and former royal burgh in Fife, Scotland on the Firth of Forth. It is known locally for its sandy blue flag beach, the 15th century Rossend Castle, and its traditional summer fair and Highland games day... Callander Callander Callander is a burgh in the region of Stirling, Scotland, on the River Teith. The town is located in the former County of Perthshire, and is a popular tourist stop to and from the Highlands.... Campbeltown Campbeltown Campbeltown is a town and former royal burgh in Argyll and Bute, Scotland, located by Campbeltown Loch on the Kintyre peninsula. Originally known as Kinlochkilkerran - this form is still used in Gaelic... Canongate, Edinburgh Canongate The Canongate is a small district at the heart of Edinburgh, the capital city of Scotland. The main street running through the area is called Canongate without the definite article, "the". Canongate, the street, forms the lower part of the Royal Mile in Edinburgh's historic Old Town. Until formal... Carnwath Carnwath Carnwath is a moorland village on the southern edge of the Pentland Hills of Lanarkshire, Scotland. The village lies about south of both Edinburgh and Glasgow. It is bounded by the North Medwyn and South Medwyn watercourses.Its current population is about 1,400... Clackmannan Clackmannan This article is about the administrative area, for the town see Clackmannan, Clackmannanshire.----From 1975, Clackmannan was the name of a small town and local government district in the Central region of Scotland, corresponding to the traditional county of Clackmannanshire, which was Scotland's... Cockburnspath Cockburnspath Cockburnspath is a village in Scotland which lies near the North Sea coast between Berwick-upon-Tweed and Edinburgh. It is at the eastern extremity of the Southern Upland Way, a long-distance footpath from the west to east coast of Scotland... Coldingham Coldingham Coldingham is a historic village in Berwickshire, on southeast Scotland's coastline, north of Eyemouth.As early as 660AD, Coldingham was the site of a religious establishment of high order, when it is recorded that Etheldreda, the Queen of Egfrid, became a nun at the Abbey of Coldingham, then... Crail Crail Crail is a former royal burgh in the East Neuk of Fife, Scotland.Crail probably dates from at least as far back as the Pictish period, as the place-name includes the Pictish/Brythonic element caer, 'fort', and there is a Dark Age cross-slab preserved in the parish kirk, itself dedicated to the... Crieff Crieff Crieff is a market town in Perth and Kinross, Scotland. It lies on the A85 road between Perth and Crianlarich and also lies on the A822 between Greenloaning and Aberfeldy. The A822 joins onto the A823 which leads to Dunfermline.... Cullen Cullen Cullen is a village and former royal burgh in Moray, Scotland, on the North Sea coast east of Elgin. The village now has a population of 1,327 Cullen is noticeably busier in summer than winter due to the number of holiday homes owned. The organs of the wife of Robert the Bruce are said to have... Culross Culross The town of Culross, pronounced "Coo-ros", is a former royal burgh in Fife, Scotland. Originally a port city on the Firth of Forth, the town is said to have been founded by Saint Serf The town of Culross, pronounced "Coo-ros", (Gaelic: Cuileann Ros) is a former royal burgh in Fife, Scotland. ... Cumnock Cumnock Cumnock is a town in East Ayrshire, Scotland. The town sits at the confluence of the Glaisnock Water and the Lugar Water... Cupar Cupar Cupar is a town and former royal burgh in Fife, Scotland. The town is approximately equidistant between the larger settlements of Dundee and Glenrothes.... Dingwall Dingwall Dingwall is a town and former royal burgh in the Highland council area of Scotland. It has a population of 5,026. It formerly functioned as an east-coast port, but now lies inland... Dornoch Dornoch Dornoch is a town and seaside resort, and former Royal burgh in the Highlands of Scotland, on the north shore of the Dornoch Firth, close to where it opens into the Moray Firth to the east... Doune Doune Doune is a burgh in the district of Stirling, Scotland, on the River Teith. Traditionally and geographically, Doune lies within Perthshire . However, administratively Doune is under the control of Stirling Council... Duffus Duffus Duffus is a village in Moray, Scotland, centred on a Mercat Cross. The Duffus Village Inn, along with the local shop, Post Office and Duffus Village Hall provide a focal point for the community. Nearby are the impressive remains of Duffus Castle, St... Dumfries Dumfries Dumfries is a market town and former royal burgh within the Dumfries and Galloway council area of Scotland and is situated close to the Solway Firth, near the mouth of the River Nith. Dumfries was the county town of the former county of Dumfriesshire... Dundee Dundee Dundee is the fourth-largest city in Scotland and, fully named as Dundee City, one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. It lies on the north bank of the Firth of Tay, which feeds into the North Sea.... Dunfermline Dunfermline Dunfermline is a city in Fife, Scotland. It is located on high ground from the northern shore of the Firth of Forth on the route of major road and rail crossings across the firth to Edinburgh and the south. Dunfermline has a population of 45,462, making this the second-largest settlement in Fife... Dunkeld Dunkeld Dunkeld is a small town in Strathtay, Perth and Kinross, Scotland, approximately 15 miles north of Perth on the eastern side of the A9 road into the Scottish Highlands and on the opposite side of the Tay from the Victorian village of Birnam... Duns Duns Duns was created a Burgh of Barony in 1490 by James IV, and is a former county town of Berwickshire in the Scottish Borders.-Today:Duns has the largest shopping facilities in a radius of fifteen miles and houses the Berwickshire Sheriff Court as well as principal offices of the Scottish Borders... Edinburgh Edinburgh Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland. It is the second largest Scottish city, after Glasgow, and the seventh-most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council is one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas.... Elgin, Moray Elgin, Moray Elgin is a former cathedral city and a former Royal Burgh in Moray, Scotland and is the administrative and commercial centre for Moray. The city originated to the south of the River Lossie on the higher ground above the flood plain. Elgin is first documented in the Cartulary of Moray in 1190...	Falkirk Falkirk Falkirk Falkirk Falkirk is a town in central Scotland lying to the north west and north east of the cities of Edinburgh and Glasgow, respectively. According to a 2007... Fettercairn Fettercairn Fettercairn is a small village in northeast Scotland It is located northwest of Laurencekirk in Aberdeenshire on the B966 from Edzell. Fettercairn is also reached via the Cairn O' Mount road from Deeside.... Forfar Forfar Forfar is a town and former royal burgh of approximately 13,500 people, located in the unitary authority of Angus in Scotland. It is the administrative centre of Angus and was the capital of the former county of Angus... Forres Forres Forres , is a town and former royal burgh situated in the north of Scotland on the Moray coast, approximately 30 miles east of Inverness. Forres has been a winner of the Scotland in Bloom award on several occasions... Fraserburgh Fraserburgh Fraserburgh is a town in Aberdeenshire, Scotland with a population recorded in the 2001 Census at 12,454 and estimated at 12,630 in 2006. It lies at the extreme northeast corner of Aberdeenshire, around north of Aberdeen, and north of Peterhead... Galashiels Galashiels Galashiels is a burgh in the Scottish Borders, on the Gala Water river. The name is often abbreviated colloquially to "Gala" .Galashiels is a major commercial centre and central communication point for the Scottish Borders... Gifford Gifford, East Lothian Gifford is a village in the parish of Yester in East Lothian, Scotland. It lies approximately 4 miles south of Haddington and 25 miles east of Edinburgh.-History:... Glasgow Glasgow Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands... Haddington Houston Inveraray Inveraray Inveraray is a town and former Royal Burgh in Argyll and Bute, Scotland, located on the western shore of Loch Fyne near its head, and on the A83 road... Inverbervie Inverbervie Inverbervie is a small town on the north-east coast of Scotland, south of Stonehaven, in the Aberdeenshire council area.... Inverkeithing Inverkeithing Inverkeithing is a town and former royal burgh in Fife, Scotland, located on the Firth of Forth. According to population estimates , the town has a population of 5,265. The port town was given burgh status by King David I of Scotland in the 12th century and is situated about 9 miles north from... Inverness Inverness Inverness is a city in northern Scotland. The city is the administrative centre for the Highland council area, and is promoted as the capital of the Highlands of Scotland... Irvine Irvine, North Ayrshire Irvine is a coastal new town in North Ayrshire, Scotland. According to recent population estimates , the town is home to 39,527 as the largest settlement within North Ayrshire.... Jedburgh Jedburgh Jedburgh is a town and former royal burgh in the Scottish Borders and historically in Roxburghshire.-Location:Jedburgh lies on the Jed Water, a tributary of the River Teviot, it is only ten miles from the border with England, and is dominated by the substantial ruins of Jedburgh Abbey... Kilmarnock Kilmarnock Kilmarnock is a large burgh in East Ayrshire, Scotland, with a population of 44,170. It is roughly equidistant between Glasgow and Ayr, and is the second largest town in Ayrshire... Kilmaurs Kilmaurs Kilmaurs is a village in East Ayrshire, Scotland. It lies on the Carmel, 21.1 miles south by west of Glasgow by the Glasgow & South-Western railway. Pop. , 1803.- History :... Kincardine on Forth Kinross Kinross Kinross is a burgh in Perth and Kinross, Scotland. It was formerly the county town of Kinross-shire.Kinross is a fairly small town, with some attractive buildings... Kirkcaldy Kirkcaldy Kirkcaldy is a town and former royal burgh in Fife, on the east coast of Scotland. It lies on a shallow bay on the northern shore of the Firth of Forth and is the largest settlement between the cities of Dundee and Edinburgh. The name of the town is believed to have derived from the Pictish words ... Kirkcudbright Kirkcudbright Kirkcudbright, is a town in the south of Scotland in Dumfries and Galloway.The town lies south of Castle Douglas and Dalbeattie, in the part of Dumfries and Galloway known as the Stewartry, situated at the mouth of the River Dee, some six miles from the sea... Kirkwall Kirkwall Kirkwall is the largest town and capital of Orkney, off the coast of northern mainland Scotland. The town is first mentioned in Orkneyinga saga in the year 1046. It was established as the settlement of Rögnvald II, Earl of Orkney, who was killed by his successor, Thorfinn... Langholm Langholm Langholm, also known colloquially as the "Muckle Toon", is a burgh in Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland, on the River Esk and the A7 road.- History & General :... Leven Leven, Fife Leven is a seaside town in Fife, Scotland, on the coast of the Firth of Forth at the mouth of the River Leven.On the coast immediately south-west of Leven are Methil and Buckhaven... Linlithgow Linlithgow Linlithgow is a former Royal Burgh in West Lothian, Scotland. Those born in Linlithgow are sometimes nicknamed Black Bitches, and the town's coat of arms shows a black dog, chained to an oak tree, which grows on an island. Linlithgow's patron saint is Saint Michael and its motto is St... Luss Luss Luss is a village in Argyll & Bute, Scotland, on the west bank of Loch Lomond.Historically in the County of Dunbarton, its original name is Clachan dubh, or 'dark village'...	Maybole Maybole Maybole is a burgh of barony and police burgh of South Ayrshire, Scotland. Pop. 4,552. It is situated south of Ayr and southwest of Glasgow by the Glasgow and South Western Railway. ‎... Meikleour Meikleour Meikleour is a village in Perth and Kinross, Scotland. Approximately twelve miles north of Perth and four miles south of Blairgowrie, it is home to the Meikleour Beech Hedges, the tallest and longest hedge in the world.-External links:*... Melrose Melrose, Scotland Melrose is a small, historic town in the Scottish Borders, historically in Roxburghshire. It is in the Eildon committee area.The town's name is recorded in its earliest form as Mailros, 'the bare peninsula' , referring to the original site of the monastery, recorded by the Venerable Bede, in a bend... Moffat Moffat Moffat is a former burgh and spa town in Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland, lying on the River Annan, with a population of around 2,500. The most notable building in the town is the Moffat House Hotel, designed by John Adam... Moniaive Moniaive Moniaive is a village in the south of Scotland in Dumfries and Galloway, near Thornhill, on the A702 road and B729 road. Population 520 . The name is from Gaelic monadh-abh and means "Hill of Streams". It is situated at the northern end of the very scenic and tranquil Cairn Valley... Montrose Montrose, Angus Montrose is a coastal resort town and former royal burgh in Angus, Scotland. It is situated 38 miles north east of Dundee between the mouths of the North and South Esk rivers... Musselburgh Musselburgh Musselburgh is the largest settlement in East Lothian, Scotland, on the coast of the Firth of Forth, six miles east of Edinburgh city centre.-History:... North Berwick North Berwick The Royal Burgh of North Berwick is a seaside town in East Lothian, Scotland. It is situated on the south shore of the Firth of Forth, approximately 25 miles east of Edinburgh. North Berwick became a fashionable holiday resort in the 19th century because of its two sandy bays, the East Bay and the... Oldhamstock Old Rayne Old Rayne Old Rayne is a small village in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, approximately 9 miles north west of Inverurie or 14 miles south east of Huntly along the A96 road.-Etymology:The word "Rayne" comes from the Scottish Gaelic Raon meaning a field of good ground... Ormiston Ormiston For the Ormiston in Australia, see Ormiston, QueenslandOrmiston is a village in East Lothian, Scotland, UK, near Tranent, Humbie, Pencaitland and Cranston, located on the north bank of the River Tyne at an elevation of about 276 ft.... Peebles Peebles Peebles is a burgh in the committee area of Tweeddale, in the Scottish Borders, lying on the River Tweed. According to the 2001 Census, the population was 8,159.... Perth Perth, Scotland Perth is a former royal burgh in central Scotland. Sitting on the banks of the River Tay, it is the administrative headquarters of Perth and Kinross council area. According to the 2001 census, its population is 43,450... Preston Preston, East Lothian Preston is a village on the East Lothian coast of Scotland, UK, to the south of Prestonpans, the east of Prestongrange, and the southwest of Cockenzie and Port Seton.... Prestonpans Prestonpans Prestonpans is a small town to the east of Edinburgh, Scotland, in the unitary council area of East Lothian. It has a population of 7,153 . It is the site of the 1745 Battle of Prestonpans, and has a history dating back to the 11th century... Prestwick Prestwick Prestwick is a town in South Ayrshire on the south-west coast of Scotland, approximately to the south-west of Glasgow. It adjoins the larger town of Ayr, the centre of which is approximately south.... Rutherglen Rutherglen Rutherglen is a town in South Lanarkshire, Scotland. Rutherglen comes from the Gaelic An Ruadh Ghleann, meaning "the red valley". In 1975, it lost its own local council and administratively became a component of the City of Glasgow... St Andrews St Andrews St Andrews is a town and former royal burgh on the east coast of Fife in Scotland. The town is named after Saint Andrew the Apostle. St Andrews has a population of 16,596 making this the fifth largest settlement in Fife.... Scone Palace Scone Palace Scone Palace is a Category A listed historic house at Scone, Perthshire, Scotland. It was constructed Scone Palace (pronounced skoon) is a Category A listed historic house at Scone, Perthshire, Scotland. It was constructed Scone Palace (pronounced skoon) is a Category A listed historic house at... South Queensferry South Queensferry Queensferry , originally a Royal Burgh in West Lothian, is now part of the City of Edinburgh, Scotland... Stirling Stirling Stirling is a city and former ancient burgh in Scotland, and is at the heart of the wider Stirling council area. The city is clustered around a large fortress and mediæval old-town beside the River Forth... Stonehaven Stonehaven Stonehaven is a town in Aberdeenshire, Scotland... Swinton Swinton, Scottish Borders Swinton is a small village in the Scottish Borders. It is in the former county of Berwickshire, around south-east of Duns, and north-west of the Anglo-Scottish border.-History:... Tain Tain Tain is a royal burgh and post town in the committee area of Ross and Cromarty, in the Highland area of Scotland. It is on the A9 road which links the south of Scotland with the far north . Population, according to the 2001 Census, is 3,972.-Etymology:The origin of the name 'Tain' is uncertain... Thornhill Thornhill, Dumfries and Galloway Thornhill is a town in the region of Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland, south of Sanquhar and north of Dumfries.It has a population of roughly 2,600 people and was formally founded in 1664 as a burgh of barony, although the town itself is considerably older... Turriff Turriff Turriff is a town and parish in Aberdeenshire, Scotland. It is approximately 166 feet above sea level.Turriff is known locally as Turra in the Doric dialect of Scots... Whithorn Whithorn Whithorn is a former royal burgh in Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland, about ten miles south of Wigtown. The town was the location of the first recorded Christian church in Scotland, Candida Casa : the 'White [or 'Shining'] House', built by Saint Ninian about 397.-Eighth and twelfth centuries:A... Wick Wick, Highland Wick is an estuary town and a royal burgh in the north of the Highland council area of Scotland. Historically, it is one of two burghs within the county of Caithness, of which Wick was the county town. The town straddles the River Wick and extends along both sides of Wick Bay...

External links

• Mercat Cross
• Gazetteer for Scotland
• Rampant Scotland
• Glasgow Mercat Cross
• The Tolbooth and the Mercat Cross, Stirling