Mercat Cross, Castlegate, Aberdeen, Scotland

At the eastern end of Union Street, the road swings north to become King Street. Beside the change of direction, you'll find the cobble pedestrianised area that is Castlegate with the Salvation Army Citadel and the Mercat Cross. The word "mercat" signifies that there once was a market held here and the cross dates from 1686, being built by a certain John Montgomery. Given that there were markets held here as early as the twelfth century, it should come as little surprise that this finely carved monument replaces an earlier one.