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Inverkeithing, Bank Street, Market Cross



Organisation The Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland
Alternative Name(s) HIGH STREET; TOWNHALL STREET
Canmore ID 50971
Site Type MARKET CROSS, SUNDIAL
County FIFE
Parish INVERKEITHING
Council FIFE
NGR NT 13010 82872
Latitude, Longitude 56.030811N, 3.397492W
Images 8
Archaeological Notes
NT18SW 5 13010 82872 (moved from NT 13035 82906)

(NT 1303 8290) Cross (NR)
OS 25" map (1927)

The Market Cross, Inverkeithing, was re-erected in its present position in Townhall Street in 1799. Prior to then, it was situated at the N end of High Street just S of the Townhall Street opening.
The octagonal shaft rises from a base which rests on two circular steps, evidently the work of 1799. Affixed to an iron band round the shaft is the staple for the jougs or the branks. The shaft terminates in a capital of the same form, bearing four shields of arms. Above the capital is a series of four sundials and on the summit stands a unicorn carrying a shield with the Cross of St Andrew.
The sundials appear to be later than the shaft and capital. The unicorn dates from 1688.
W Stephen 1921; Burgh Records 8 July 1796

This market cross is adequately described by the preceding authorities; it is in good condition. The heraldic work has been painted.
Visited by OS (AC) 12 March 1959

Cross has been moved to NT 1301 8287.
Visited by OS Reviser May 1978.

Mercat Cross. Octagonal shaft on which have been set iron rings (? for jougs). The moulded capital bears four shields, their heraldry including the arms of Douglas and of Robert III and his queen, suggesting a date of 1398, the year in which Robert's heir, David, Duke of Rothesay, married Mary Douglas. Sundial and unicorn finial added 1688.
J Gifford 1988.

Architectural Notes
NT18SW 5 13010 82872 (moved from NT 13035 82906)

Architect: James Gillespie Graham, 1826 (rebuilding)

Related Material Information - Bibliographical References


Drummond, J (1863) 'Notice of some stone crosses, with especial reference to the market crosses of Scotland',
Gifford, McWilliam,and Walker, J, C.E., and D. (1988) Edinburgh, London. Held at RCAHMS: Quick
Kerr, H F (1905) 'Inverkeithing',
MacGibbon and Ross, D and T (1887-92) The castellated and domestic architecture of Scotland from the twelfth to the eighteenth centuries, Edinburgh. Held at RCAHMS: F.5.21.MAC
RCAHMS (1933) The Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments and Constructions of Scotland. Eleventh report with inventory of monuments and constructions in the counties of Fife, Kinross, and Clackmannan Edinburgh. Held at RCAHMS: A.1.1.INV/11
Simpson and Stevenson, A T and S (1981) Historic Inverkeithing: the archaeological implications of development, {Glasgow}. Held at RCAHMS: C.3.3.BUR
Small, J W (1900) Scottish market crosses, Stirling. Held at RCAHMS: D.4
Stephen, W (1921) History of Inverkeithing and Rosyth, Aberdeen. Held at RCAHMS: D.4.2.INV

Related Material Information - Description of Collections


Digital Images

DP050394 (1840) Order this item
Page 10 of Market-Crosses of Scotland. Includes an engraving of 'Fig. 6. Market-Cross, Cockburnspath.' Inscribed: '...sculptured on it, the ecclesiastical character is lost. But the most beautiful of all Scottish market-crosses I have yet seen is that of Inverkeithing (see Plate II), seeming to me to possess all the requisites of such an erection. It is heraldic (which, fortunately, fixes its date), has a sun-dial, which is again surmounted by the Scottish Unicorn, with the shield.'' RCAHMS

Manuscripts

MS5741/7/15 (25/9/1985) Order this item
1 sheet: photograph, references and notes. 1 photograph. RCAHMS collection Dr Andrew R Somerville

Photographs

C65830 Order this item
Copied from BWD/29/5 - sheet plan & details of font
F2375 Order this item
5 Bank Street and 7, 11 Townhall Street General view with Market Cross RCAHMS
Show all 29 Photographs...
F2881 Order this item
General view RCAHMS
F2958 Order this item
Detail of unicorn on top of cross RCAHMS
F4122/13 Order this item
Townhall Street, Market Cross General view RCAHMS
F4122/14 Order this item
View of unicorn on top of cross RCAHMS
F4123/17 Order this item
View of unicorn on top of cross RCAHMS
F4123/15 Order this item
View of unicorn on top of cross RCAHMS
F4123/16 Order this item
View of unicorn on top of cross RCAHMS
F8337PO (1961) Order this item
View of unicorn on top of the cross Rev. George Hastie
C96959CS Order this item
General view
F2885 Order this item
General view RCAHMS
C32713P (29/7/1850) Order this item
Photographic copy of a watercolour showing Market Cross. Insc: 'Inverkeithing - 29 July - 1850' Pencil, washes RCAHMS
F2782 (1936) Order this item
General view RCAHMS
F2783 (1936) Order this item
General view RCAHMS
F2784 (1936) Order this item
General view RCAHMS
F2884 Order this item
General view RCAHMS
F8349PO (1901) Order this item
General view, copy of Valentine postcard Rev. George Hastie
B96632PO Order this item
General view RCAHMS
B96631PO (22/5/1889) Order this item
General view. Dundee Public Libraries
F5189 (1855) Order this item
General view RCAHMS
F4452 (1900) Order this item
General view RCAHMS collection Francis M Chrystal
D1896 (1981) Order this item
Market cross, taken whilst excavating at 1 Bank Street/5-7 Townhall Street. Historic Scotland collection SUAT Ltd
D1897 (1981) Order this item
Market cross, taken whilst excavating at 1 Bank Street/5-7 Townhall Street. Historic Scotland collection SUAT Ltd
D1559 (1981) Order this item
Market cross, taken whilst excavating at 1 Bank Street/5-7 Townhall Street. Historic Scotland collection SUAT Ltd
D85012CS (1981) Order this item
Market cross, taken whilst excavating at 1 Bank Street/5-7 Townhall Street. Historic Scotland collection SUAT Ltd
D85082CS (1981) Order this item
Market cross, taken whilst excavating at 1 Bank Street/5-7 Townhall Street. Historic Scotland collection SUAT Ltd
E42932 (1850) Order this item
Photographic copy of sketch showing general view of 5 Bank Street and 7, 11 Townhall Street with Market Cross RCAHMS
E42933CN (1850) Order this item
Photographic copy of sketch showing general view of 5 Bank Street and 7, 11 Townhall Street with Market Cross RCAHMS

Print Room

F4914 (1901) Order this item
General view RCAHMS collection National Art Survey of Scotland
B96630PC (1900) Order this item
Postcard. General view.

Prints And Drawings

BWD29/5 Order this item
Inverkeithing, Market Cross - Cross, armorial panels, plan, section and elevation; details, sitting. Pl. No.I, showing measurements
FID107/2 Order this item
Market Cross. Watercolour of the Cross. Insc: 'Inverkeithing - 29 July - 1850' RCAHMS
Show all 4 Prints And Drawings...
FID107/3 Order this item
Sketch with notes & dimensions
FID107/1 Order this item
Elevation and details, pencil sketch with measurements

Scanned Images

SC395162 Order this item
5 Bank Street and 7, 11 Townhall Street General view with Market Cross RCAHMS
SC395164 Order this item
View of unicorn on top of cross RCAHMS
Show all 7 Scanned Images...
SC395166 Order this item
View of unicorn on top of cross RCAHMS
SC395169 Order this item
View of unicorn on top of cross RCAHMS
SC395170 Order this item
Townhall Street, Market Cross General view RCAHMS
SC395237 Order this item
Market Cross. Watercolour of the Cross. Insc: 'Inverkeithing - 29 July - 1850' RCAHMS
SC1104518 (1900) Order this item
General view RCAHMS collection Francis M Chrystal