Peebles Merkat Cross

The merkat (market) cross has been in this position since 1964, having been in a succession of places in one form or another.

Originally situated at the junction of High Street, Northgate and Eastgate (Cross Street), by the early C19 the cross was in a ruined state and demolished in 1807. The head and shaft were taken to Kinsmeadow by Sir J Hay, returned to the town in 1859 by Sir A Kay and placed in the quadrangle of the Chambers Institute. It was removed to its original site, on a new pedestal, in 1895 and moved the few yards to its present position in 1964.

The sundial above the capital is dated 1699, the copper weathervane 1662 but it is thought that the shaft and capital may be as early as the C15.