Aberdeen's Mercat Cross

The Castlegate is a small area of Aberdeen, Scotland, located centrally at the east-end of the city's main thoroughfare Union Street. Generally speaking, locals would consider it to encompas the square at the end of Union Street where the Mercat Cross and the Gallowgate are located. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1200x1600, 1204 KB) File links The following pages link to this file: Aberdeen Market cross ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1200x1600, 1204 KB) File links The following pages link to this file: Aberdeen Market cross ... The mercat cross in Cockburnspath A mercat cross is a market cross found in Scottish cities and towns where trade and commerce was a part of economic life. ... Aberdeen (IPA: ; Scottish Gaelic: ) is Scotlands third largest city with a population of 202,370. ... Motto (Latin) No one provokes me with impunity Cha togar mfhearg gun dioladh (Scottish Gaelic)1 Wha daur meddle wi me?(Scots)1 Anthem (Multiple unofficial anthems) Scotlands location in Europe Capital Edinburgh Largest city Glasgow Official languages English, Gaelic, Scots Government Constitutional monarchy  -  Queen Queen Elizabeth II... Union Street looking east Looking up Union Street from the Citadel Union Street International Market The Castlegate at the east of Union Street Union Street is the main street and shopping thoroughfare in Aberdeen, Scotland. ...

At the upper end of Castlegate stands The Salvation Army Citadel, an effective castellated mansion, on the site of the medieval Aberdeen Castle. Castlegate was the site of the castle gates until its destruction in 1308, hence the name of the area. The Salvation Army is a Evangelist Christian denomination, a charity and a social services organization. ... Aberdeen Castle was a late Middle Ages fortification,[1] in Aberdeen, Scotland. ...

Aberdeen's Mercat Cross was built in 1686 by John Montgomery, a native architect. This open-arched structure, 21 ft (6 m) in diameter and 18 ft (5 m) high, comprises 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. The mercat cross in Cockburnspath A mercat cross is a market cross found in Scottish cities and towns where trade and commerce was a part of economic life. ... John Montgomery is a name shared by several notable men: John Montgomery (died 1794), U.S. pioneer in Tennessee John Montgomery (1722-1808), U.S. merchant, Continental Congressman for Pennsylvania John Montgomery (1764-1828), U.S. lawyer, Congressman from Maryland John Gallagher Montgomery (1805-1857), U.S. lawyer, Congresman for... The gentle and pensive maiden has the power to tame the unicorn, in this fresco in Palazzo Farnese, Rome, probably by Domenichino, ca 1602 The Unicorn (from Latin unus one and cornu horn) is a legendary creature whose power is exceeded only by its mystery. ... James I (December 10, 1394 – February 21, 1437) reigned as King of Scots from April 4, 1406 until February 21, 1437. ... James VII and II (14 October 1633–16 September 1701) became King of England, Scotland, and Ireland from 6 February 1685. ...

To the east of Castle Street were the military barracks, which were demolished in 1965 and replaced with two tower blocks.

The Gallowgate which is just off the main square is called so because it is where the cities gallows used to be located. Today a small area of the old granite road pavings remains in the bus lane next to the courts. It is the exact spot where public hangings used to be conducted.

To the west, just off the main square is the Castlegate Well. No longer used, a small bronze statue has been erected over the top by William Lindsay a goldsmith who was in charge of the city's water at the time.

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