Dornoch Mercat Cross

Staff from The Highland Council met with Councillor Jim McGillivray, Edderton and East Sutherland Ward, and members of the Community Council in Dornoch last week to discuss the recent works around the Mercat Cross.

Whilst it was fully accepted that the Community Council and other relevant parties had been consulted regarding the designs, all those involved are agreed that the final result on the ground is not successful. The scheme will now be amended in further consultation and agreement with the Community Council and the granite stone structures will be removed. Revised designs at the Mercat Cross will include traditional street furniture more appropriate to the historic setting.

The Council will seek an alternative site for the granite structures, which were designed to illustrate the Old Scots Measures that would have been in use in Scotland’s markets prior to the imposition of standard Imperial measures in 1824. Dry goods, such as grain, were measured in units such as ‘bolls’ and ‘chalders’ – represented by the volumes of the granite stones. An interpretation panel expanding on this information will also now be relocated when an appropriate site is found.