IMAGES TAKEN NEAR TO
St. Johns Centre, PERTH, PH1 5UX

Mercat crosses do tend to be taken for granted in Scotland, unlike strawberries. Here, the commercial instinct clearly outweighs the historical value of one Scotland's grandest crosses (even though it was built in 1913 as an Edward VII Memorial, Cromwell having removed the original cross from the High Street in 1763). It is showing signs of wear and tear, and attracting graffiti. What must the tourists think? The collective conscience of Perth's town council does not seem unduly disturbed. Even the fine Victorian City Hall seen in the background has been slated for demolition.

The medieval mercat (or market) cross of Perth stood in the High Street at its junction with the Skinnergate, until its destruction by Cromwell's army in 1651. The modern mercat cross, designed in 1913, was erected as a memorial to King Edward VII. Though not used as a market cross it is, appropriately enough, adjacent to the modern St John's Centre shopping mall at its King Edward Street entrance. (from Perth City http://www.perthcity.co.uk/index.asp?pg=65) See also Image

The dedication to King Edward VII on the modern Mercat Cross (Image]) outside the St John's Shopping Centre.

Popularly known as Perth's mercat cross, though, strictly speaking, it is in fact the Edward VII Memorial. It is the focal point of Remembrance Sunday in Perth. The burgh's original mercat cross stands in the ground of Fingask Castle. For an explanation of mercat crosses, see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mercat_cross

The mercat cross in its present form was erected in 1913 as a memorial to King Edward VII, though its design was based on the historical cross, one of only five in Scotland to have an elaborate understructure. The half-turrets are an added touch of Scots Baronial architecture, which was an extremely popular style in Victorian Scotland.

One of the sculpted medallions on the mercat cross in Perth. It's an historical anachronism, inasmuch as the presence of the two unicorn supporters pre-dates the 1707 Treaty of Union with England, whereas the Cross was constructed in 1913. It was presumably included to indicate Perth's royal burgh status.

The medieval mercat (or market) cross of Perth stood in the High Street at its junction with the Skinnergate, until its destruction by Cromwell's army in 1651. The modern mercat cross, designed in 1913, was erected as a memorial to King Edward VII. Though not used as a market cross it is, appropriately enough, adjacent to the modern St John's Centre shopping mall at its King Edward Street entrance. (from Perth City http://www.perthcity.co.uk/index.asp?pg=65) See also Image

This sculpture by David Annand in Perth High Street is based on a poem by Perth poet William Soutar. The words of the poem are engraved inside the circle.

My attention was drawn to these sculptures on the footpath outside the shop. The sculpture is Nae Day Sae Dark by David Annand, based on a poem by Perth poet William Soutar.