Alternative Names Castlegate, Merkat Cross; Mercat Cross
Site type MARKET CROSS
Canmore ID 20141
Site Number NJ90NW 23
NGR NJ 94496 06380
Council ABERDEEN, CITY OF
Parish ABERDEEN
Former Region GRAMPIAN
Former District CITY OF ABERDEEN
Former County ABERDEENSHIRE

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Archaeological Notes

NJ90NW 23 94496 06380 Originally at 9440 0633

(NJ 9449 0637) Cross (NR) (Market)
OS 25" map, (1926).

Not to be confused with NJ90NW 6.

A fine speciment of a large market cross, originally erected at NJ 9440 0633 in 1686, thoroughly repaired in 1821 and removed to the present site in 1827. The built understructure, hexagonal in plan and composed of a series of semi-circular arches supports a parapet, decorated with arms and royal portrait medallions. Within the parapet rises a carved column surmounted by the unicorn with the shield.
J W Small 1900; D MacGibbon and T Ross 1892.
Visited by OS (JLD) 22 August 1952.

(Additional bibliography and newspaper references cited).
NMRS, MS/712/83.

[Former index no. 106]. Descheduled.
Information from Historic Scotland: Certificate of Exclusion from Schedule dated 16 February 2009.

Architectural Notes

NMRS REFERENCE:
Aberdeen, Castle Street, Mercat Cross.

1686. Hexagonal. Built in Freestone. (designed and built by John Montgomery, a master mason from Rayne in Aberdeenshire. Removed to its present position in 1842.)

NBR: M&R.Dom.Arch.,Vol.V,212,562.

EXTERNAL REFERENCE:

Infromation available in Aberdeen Public Library, Reference Section.
Fraser, G.M. The Market Cross of Aberdeen. 1908.
In Aberdeen in Bygone days.
In Aberdeen fifty years ago.
In Robbie's Aberdeen.
In Munro's Old Landmarks of Aberdeen. 1886.
Transactions of Aberdeen Philosophical Society. Vol IV, p.146.

Plans: Aberdeen Public Library, Reference Department.
The Market Cross on its removal to its present site, 1842. Lithograph by John Henderson from drawing by John Smith, City Architect.
Slides - Market Cross, 1812; Market Cross as Post Office 1821; Market Cross; Market Cross decorated; Medical Hall and Market Cross.

Ministry of Works Library:
Country Life, August 19th, 1965.

Non-Guardianship Sites Plan Collection DC23014-DC23020.

MacGibbon and Ross, D and T (1887-92) The castellated and domestic architecture of Scotland from the twelfth to the eighteenth centuries, 5v Edinburgh
Page(s): Vol.5, 232 Held at RCAHMS F.5.21.MAC

McConnochie, A I (comp.) ({190-?}c) 123 views of Royal Deeside, Aberdeen
Page(s): 12,13 Held at RCAHMS D.5.1.MCC

RCAHMS (1997b) Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland: Aberdeen on Record: images of the past: photographs and drawings of the National Monuments Record of Scotland, Edinburgh
Page(s): fig.105 Held at RCAHMS A.1.7.ABE