Is it just me, or does this spot at Glasgow Cross feel like the city’s very heart? The Mercat Cross stands here a proud marker of Glasgow’s history. Market crosses like this are found all over Scotland. They mark places where markets were legally held.
This Mercat Cross represents one removed from Glasgow Cross in 1659. A town’s cross was often its symbolic center. Markets and communal events took place beside it. Its absence must have caused a dent in civic pride.
Let me tell you about its grand return. The new Mercat Cross was funded by Dr. William Black and his wife. Its inauguration on April 24, 1930, was a day of great pomp and ceremony. The Glasgow Herald reported probably not since 1649 when Charles II was proclaimed King has the Mercat Cross been the center of such striking ceremonial.
Imagine gold, scarlet, and blue robes of the Lyon King of Arms. Picture his heralds and pursuivants standing out against the black gowns of the Lord Provost. The gorgeous robes and royal greeting belonged to centuries past. They made us a great nation.
The Mercat Cross itself is quite a sight. It is an octagonal tower. A heraldic unicorn tops the cross and holds a shield. On the tower’s western side, a plaque declares this is The Mercat Cross of Glasgow. It was built in 1929. Above that is the city’s coat of arms with its motto Let Glasgow flourish.
On the tower’s eastern side is a badge. It shows a thistle and a St Andrew’s Cross. The Latin phrase Nemo me impune lacessit is inscribed. It means No-one provokes me with impunity. It translates to Wha daur meddle wi’ me in Scots. Above that is an unidentified coat of arms and a Latin phrase.
The present Mercat Cross is a copy of one which stood here until the mid-seventeenth century. The crown of the Tolbooth Steeple stands behind the cross.
The Mercat Cross served a secular purpose as a symbol of authority. It indicated a burgh’s relative prosperity. The term dates from before 1707. This was when Scotland was an independent state. Historical documents often refer to the cross of a town or village. Today, there are around 126 known examples of extant crosses in Scotland.
Early town crosses may have continued the tradition of church crosses. These marked consecrated land. They also marked sanctuary boundaries. They functioned as communal gathering places. They were originally pillars of wood on stone bases. Later, they changed to stone pillars.
The cross was the place around which market stalls were arranged. Merchants gathered to discuss business. It was also where state proclamations were read. Royal proclamations are still read at the Mercat Cross in Edinburgh. This includes calling a general election.
The Mercat Cross was the focal point for civic ceremonials and public shamings. Some crosses still have iron staples for jougs and branks. Communal gatherings still take place at crosses.
The cross atop the shaft may have been replaced with a statue. This could be a royal unicorn or lion. It could also be the arms of the royal burgh. These are often painted. Another finial is a stone ball.
Five crosses at Edinburgh, Dundee, Perth, Aberdeen, and Preston were supported by a drum-shaped understructure. Glasgow’s cross has a plain understructure. Most crosses stand on stepped stone bases. They average 9 to 13 feet in height.
Some mercat crosses are Victorian replicas. Some were adapted as war memorials. Scottish emigrants took the idea of the Mercat Cross to other countries.
The Mercat Cross which now stands at the junction is not the original. It was removed in 1659. The building dates from 1929. It was gifted to the city by Dr William Black and his wife. There was a dedication service in 1930.
The cross is an octagonal design. A pillar in the center is topped by a unicorn. Before the dedication, a time capsule was sealed into a cavity. It contained documents relating to the gift of the Mercat Cross. So, when you pass the Mercat Cross, remember its rich past. It is a symbol of Glasgow’s enduring spirit.