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Summary

Description

16th century base. Replacement shaft and head, J W Small, designer and Alexander Neilson, sculptor, 1902. Stone. Original octagonal base, tiered steps. Chamfered shaft; moulded base, chamfered plinth. Moulded, decorative capital with dentils, acanthus leaf and fluted details. Cubical head; decoration to each face. Moulded base; column shafts at each quoin. Faces carved with inscriptions. NE face; Culross Burgh arms with date of creation of the royal burgh (1588) in pediment tympanum. SE face; the provost's initials and inscription; 'Restored by the Honourable Sir James Sivewright of Tulliallan 1 July 1902 and John Cunningham of Balgownie Provost'. SW face; monogram of King James VI with crown; '1902' in pediment tympanum. NW face; Sir James Sivewright's arms; initials in tympanum. Surmounting unicorn.

Statement of Special Interest

A market cross was a common feature in a burgh; Culross mercat cross is sited in a prominent position in The Cross, a cobbled area which lies at the junction of four roads and beside Back Causeway which follows the line of the original street which ran from the Abbey to the Sandhaven. This cross replaced a plain stone megalith with a small surmounting cross, as depicted in James Drummond s sketch of the market cross made in 1849 (NMRS archive). The restoration of the cross was financed by Sir James Sivewright to commemorate the coronation of Edward VII. The architect J W Small prepared the drawings and Alexander Neilson, a sculptor from Dundee executed the work under the supervision of William Gauldie, an architect from Dundee. The unicorn holds the Garter of the Thistle (Cunningham). For brief history of Culross Burgh see Culross, The Cross, The Study.

Formerly Scheduled Ancient Monument No 4288, scheduled 15/12/1953 and descheduled 13/05/2016.

References

Bibliography

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