Scheduled Monument

Dornoch Mercat CrossSM10835

Status: Designated

Documents

Where documents include maps, the use of this data is subject to terms and conditions (https://portal.historicenvironment.scot/termsandconditions).

The legal document available for download below constitutes the formal designation of the monument under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979. The additional details provided on this page are provided for information purposes only and do not form part of the designation. Historic Environment Scotland accepts no liability for any loss or damages arising from reliance on any inaccuracies within this additional information.

Summary

Date Added
08/09/2003
Type
Crosses and carved stones: market cross
Local Authority
Highland
Parish
Dornoch
NGR
NH 79756 89707
Coordinates
279756, 889707

Description

The monument comprises Dornoch Mercat Cross, which is medieval or early modern in date. The monument is situated at about 10m O.D. in the centre of the small town of Dornoch adjacent to the N wall of Dornoch Cathedral graveyard.

The cross is first mentioned in 1515, the slender square-plan shaft, c. 2m high, has chamfered corners and sits on a large squared base, whose upper edges are also chamfered, on a shallow c. 1.5m square plinth. Dornoch was erected into a Royal Burgh in 1628 and the shaft may date to that time. It is likely that the monument stands in its original position next to the market place and the 1730 tolbooth, which was removed in 1818. The graveyard wall to its S dates to c. 1811.

The area proposed for scheduling comprises the remains described above and excludes the graveyard wall and the pavement surface to a depth of 30cm. It is rectangular on plan and measures 2.5m E-W and 2m N-S and is marked in red on the accompanying map extract.

Statement of National Importance

The monument is of national importance as a medieval and or early modern secular survival associated with the burghal status of this Highland market town. Its significance is increased as it appears to exist in its original location and as it now represents one of the few surviving relics of the secular history of Dornoch. It should be protected to facilitate comparison of monuments of the type on a regional and national level.

References

Bibliography

RCAHMS records the monument as Dornoch, High Street, Mercat Cross, NH78NE 4.

High Street Mercat Cross was Category B Listed in 1971, HB 24646.

References:

(1996) HISTORIC DORNOCH: THE ARCHAEOLOGICAL IMPLICATIONS OF DEVELOPMENT, unpublished.

OPS (1855) ORIGINES PAROCHIALES SCOTIAE: THE ANTIQUITIES ECCLESIASTICAL AND TERRITORIAL OF THE PARISHES OF SCOTLAND, Edinburgh, Vol. 2, No. 2, 645.

RCAHMS (1911) SECOND REPORT AND INVENTORY OF MONUMENTS AND CONSTRUCTIONS IN THE COUNTY OF SUTHERLAND, Edinburgh, No. 146, 50-51.

Small J W (1900) SCOTTISH MARKET CROSSES, Stirling, pl. 107.

About Scheduled Monuments

Historic Environment Scotland is responsible for designating sites and places at the national level. These designations are Scheduled monuments, Listed buildings, Inventory of gardens and designed landscapes and Inventory of historic battlefields.

We make recommendations to the Scottish Government about historic marine protected areas, and the Scottish Ministers decide whether to designate.

Scheduling is the process that identifies, designates and provides statutory protection for monuments and archaeological sites of national importance as set out in the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979.

We schedule sites and monuments that are found to be of national importance using the selection guidance published in Designation Policy and Selection Guidance (2019)

Scheduled monument records provide an indication of the national importance of the scheduled monument which has been identified by the description and map. The description and map (see ‘legal documents’ above) showing the scheduled area is the designation of the monument under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979. The statement of national importance and additional information provided are supplementary and provided for general information purposes only. Historic Environment Scotland accepts no liability for any loss or damages arising from reliance on any inaccuracies within the statement of national importance or additional information. These records are not definitive historical or archaeological accounts or a complete description of the monument(s).

The format of scheduled monument records has changed over time. Earlier records will usually be brief. Some information will not have been recorded and the map will not be to current standards. Even if what is described and what is mapped has changed, the monument is still scheduled.

Scheduled monument consent is required to carry out certain work, including repairs, to scheduled monuments. Applications for scheduled monument consent are made to us. We are happy to discuss your proposals with you before you apply and we do not charge for advice or consent. More information about consent and how to apply for it can be found on our website at www.historicenvironment.scot.

Find out more about scheduling and our other designations at www.historicenvironment.scot/advice-and-support. You can contact us on 0131 668 8914 or at designations@hes.scot.

Images

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Printed: 29/03/2024 10:32