Mercat Cross

The Mercat Cross was the traditional heart of the burgh, serving as the site for significant proclamations. It was here that new monarchs were declared, with a locked staircase leading to the top for announcements. The location held symbolic importance, particularly to the Jacobites, and on 20th September 1715, the Old Pretender was proclaimed king at the Mercat Cross. Designed by John Montgomery in 1686 and made from sandstone, the cross cost £1200 to build (excluding materials). Its decorative hexagonal base features six arches with pillars at each corner, animal gargoyles, and twelve medallions. Ten of the medallions depict Stewart monarchs, from James I to James VII, including Mary Queen of Scots, while the remaining two show the Royal arms and the burgh’s arms. Atop the parapet stands a white marble unicorn with a gilded horn, perched on a Corinthian capital. The unicorn and shaft are replacements from the mid-1990s, with the originals displayed in the Tolbooth.