Description

Dated 1695, restored 1887 and 1987. Corniced octagonal red sandstone shaft capped with squared ball finial sundial with wrought iron dated flag on 3-stage stepped and shouldered base plinth. 1930s bronze plaques by George Hope Tait.

Statement of Interest

The mercat cross has a strong historical significance to old Galashiels, prominently sited on the corner of Scott Crescent and Elm Row at the centre of the Old Town alongside the Tollbooth (demolished 1880). Although altered, it maintains an important historical link with the old town and the adjacent Old Cloth hall, the few remaining structures to the area which was comprehensively redeveloped in the 1960s.

The cross was re-erected on the stepped base in 1887 as part of a restoration scheme. Further works were carried out in 1987, involving stone replacement; part of the original shaft of the cross is now sited in the museum of Old Gala House. As a result of the later works the cross is now sited on a traffic island on a busy crossroads.

Category changed from B to C(S) 2006.

External Links

• Historic Environment Scotland Listing
• Wikidata Q56633754

External links are from the relevant listing authority and, where applicable, Wikidata. Wikidata IDs may be related buildings as well as this specific building. If you want to add or update a link, you will need to do so by editing the Wikidata entry.

Recommended Books

• 
  Lancashire: Manchester and the South-East (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Surrey (The Buildings of England) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  [(Bedfordshire, Huntingdon and Peterborough)] [By (author) Nikolaus Pevsner] published on (January, 1968)
• 
  Huddersfield in 50 Buildings
• 
  Hertfordshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Kent: West and the Weald: The Buildings of England (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)