Aberdeen's Mercat Cross

Aberdeen's Mercat Cross

Aberdeen's Mercat Cross was built in 1686 by John Montgomery, an Aberdeen architect. It is in the Castlegate area in the old burgh of New Aberdeen.

This open-arched structure, 21 ft (6 m) in diameter and 18 ft (5 m) high, is a large hexagonal base from the centre of which rises a shaft with a Corinthian capital, on which is the royal unicorn. The base is highly decorated, including medallions illustrating Scottish monarchs from James I to James VII and is supported by a series of open semi-circular arcades. According to local legend, the ghost of a unicorn can be seen to circle the Castlegate when a full moon is visible.

During the Jacobite rising of 1715 James Stuart, the Old Pretender, was declared king at the cross.^[1]

References

1. "Aberdeen's Historically Important 1686 Mercat Cross".

57°08′54″N 2°05′33″W