Greenlaw, The Old Market Cross

The Old Market Cross of Greenlaw, which is thought to have been erected in 1609 by the Marchmont family, once stood in the centre of the green.

The cross comprised a column with a Corinthian capital, surmounted by a lion bearing the Marchmont coat-of-arms. It stood until 1829, when it was taken down prior to the construction of the County Buildings. It was placed in the old prison, where it remained until 1881, when it was re-erected against the west wall of the church tower.

Upon completion of the County Buildings, a new replica cross was erected.

Text prepared by RCAHMS as part of the Accessing Scotland's Past project

NT74NW 17 71150 46146

NT74NW 55 71143 46038 Market Cross (erected 1829)

The old market cross of Greenlaw was situated in the centre of the Market Green (at NT 7113 4607). It was erected in 1696 by the Marchmont family, when it was surmounted by a lion bearing a shield with the Marchmont coat of arms. It was taken down in 1829 when the County Buildings were being erected, and put into the old prison (NT74NW 18), where it lay covered with rubbish till 1881 when it was re-erected, minus its "under part and crowning piece", at the W side of the church tower (NT 7114 4614).

The present cross, apparently modelled on its predecessor, was erected in front of the County Buildings in 1829.

J W Small 1900; RCAHMS 1915, visited 1908; R Gibson 1905.

The original cross, as illustrated by Small, stands against the W wall of the church tower, at NT 7115 4614.

Visited by OS(JP) 27 July 1970.