view down Edinburgh's High Street with the unicorn from the Mercat Cross in the foreground

If you’ve ever walked up Edinburgh’s Royal Mile, you’re bound to have seen the Mercat Cross.

The historic landmark stands outside St Giles’ Cathedral, at the heart of Edinburgh’s Old Town, a UNESCO World Heritage site.

This Category A listed feature was primarily a focus for trade, but at key points in history it is used for ceremonial events, public proclamations and civic announcements.

1930s photo of the Mercat Cross viewed in front of Edinburgh City Chambers,

Caption: For hundreds of years, a Mercat Cross has graced the High Street in Edinburgh. The one we know today dates to the late 1800s. Take a closer look at this image from the 1930s over on Canmore. © Courtesy of HES (B C Clayton Collection)

History of the cross

The history of Edinburgh’s Mercat Cross is complex. It was first mentioned in a charter of 1365 and it was rebuilt in 1617 to a design by master masons John Tailefer and John Mylne. The position of the 1617 cross is now marked out in cobblestones on the Royal Mile.

ink drawing of the merkat cross. An octagonal structure with a tall, slender column in the centre, topped with a unicorn.

Elements from the 17th century Mercat Cross still exist in the Mercat Cross we know today. Take a closer look on Canmore. © Courtesy of HES.

It had an octagonal base bearing eight medallions, and incorporated the shaft and capital of an earlier cross. The door led to a platform from where Royal proclamations were made. It was demolished in 1756 and parts of ended up in Drum House in Gilmerton. Five of the eight plaques eventually made their way to Abbotsford House in the Borders after they were purchased by Sir Walter Scott to  adorn his garden walls.

In 1866, parts of the 1617 cross were retrieved from Drum House. This included the shaft, which stands nearly 14 feet tall. However, the unicorn on top of the column is thought to date from 1869, and is based on a description of an earlier unicorn. This spectacular feature once again took pride of place atop the Mercat Cross, high above the Royal Mile.

monochrome illustration of the Mercat Cross, with some hand written notes beside it, which are hard to read.

Caption: The 19th century reconstruction of the Mercat Cross was a little more ornate. Head to Canmore to zoom in on the detail. © Courtesy of HES.

In 1885 a new octagonal base was built underneath the cross. This was paid for by MP William Gladstone. The Latin inscription above the door was composed by Gladstone and reads:

“This ancient monument, the Cross of Edinburgh, which of old was set apart for public ceremonies, having been utterly destroyed by a misguided hand… and having been avenged as well as lamented, in song alike noble and manful, by that great man Walter Scott, has now, by favour of the Magistrates of the City, been restored by William Ewart Gladstone.”

A focal point

The cross has witnessed all kinds of announcements over the decades, including news of the end of World War Two and Her Majesty the Queen’s accession to the throne in 1952.

Elevated view of Edinburgh's Mercat Cross where an official in robes addresses soldiers in formation below.

Royal proclamation at Edinburgh’s Mercat Cross for the accession of Queen Elizabeth.
© The Scotsman Publications Ltd. Licensor www.scran.ac.uk

Just like in 1952 for the proclamation of  The Queen’s succession, King Charles III’s accession to the throne was read from Edinburgh’s Mercat Cross by the Lord Lyon King of Arms.

Conservation work

In 2018 the cross underwent three months of conservation work supported by Historic Environment Scotland, Graciela Ainsworth Sculpture Conservation and Historic Property Restoration Limited.

Heraldic decorations were restored and repainted and the asphalt roof was replaced. Local apprentices also repointed the stonework with a traditional lime-based mortar.

  • A man and woman work together to paint a carved unicorn

    Conservation work taking place on the Mercat Cross in 2018.

  • A person wearing PPE carries out conservation on a carved panel of the mercat cross.

    Restoration of the roundels on the Mercat Cross.

  • Close up of the carved unicorn prior to restoriation

    Unicorn on top of Mercat Cross prior to conservation.

  • Man in PPE paints the eye detail on a carved unicorn

    Conservation of the carved unicorn on top of Edinburgh’s Mercat Cross.

  • Woman in hard hat paints heraldic shield

    Restoration painter Tracey Clayton, working on the Mercat Cross roundels in 2018.

  • Man in hard hat works on heraldic panel.

    Restoration painter Liam Givan applies gold leaf to one of the roundels on Mercat Cross.

 

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Ali George

Ali works in our Digital Team coordinating our social media and blog content. She enjoys helping our expert staff across the country tell their stories in new and interesting ways.