Mercat Cross Glasgow photos, Merchant City architecture, Architect, Date, Location, Date, Images, history

Mercat Cross, Glasgow

Historic Merchant City Building, Scotland design by Edith Burnet Hughes

post updated 2 December 2023

Date built: 1930

Design: Edith Burnet Hughes

Location: southeast corner of the Merchant City, just east of the Tron Kirk

Mercat Cross

building image © Adrian Welch Sep 2006

Glasgow Cross is located at the hub of the ancient royal burgh and now city of Glasgow, close to its first crossing over the River Clyde. It marks the notional boundary between the city centre and the East End.

Mercat Cross Glasgow

Mercat Cross photo © AW

As a major junction at the gateway into the city centre, its five streets run as follows:

– north up the High Street to Glasgow Cathedral, Cathedral Square and the Royal Infirmary
– east along Gallowgate and London Road, close to St Andrew’s Square
– south on the Saltmarket to Glasgow Green and the Justiciary Buildings
– west along Trongate continuing as Argyle Street towards St Enoch Square and Buchanan Street.

Mercat Building by Graham Henderson from 1922

It has two key recognisable features. The Tolbooth Steeple is the surviving part of the 17th century Glasgow Tolbooth. The mercat cross replica commissioned in 1929 by William George Black, and designed by architect Edith Hughes.

Glasgow Cross – Merchant Building

photo © AJW