An old stepped base supports a later carved cross at the meeting of four streets.
Quick facts
- Date
- Sixteenth-century base; replacement shaft and head 1902
- Architect / designer
- J W Small, designer; Alexander Neilson, sculptor; William Gauldie supervised the 1902 work
- Type
- Market cross
- OS grid reference
- NS 98683 85948
Architecture and setting
The octagonal platform, slender shaft and decorated head make a compact focal point in the irregular square. A unicorn crowns the composition. Heraldry and inscriptions identify royal and burgh associations while also recording the people responsible for restoration.
Its story
Sir James Sivewright financed the 1902 work to commemorate Edward VII’s coronation. HES distinguishes the earlier base from the replacement upper portions. Trove’s archive includes views of the surrounding streets and an 1849 sketch, allowing the monument to be studied as part of a changing place.
Why it is included
Connects civic identity to the meeting of streets and successive acts of commemoration.
What to look for
- The join between stepped base and shaft
- Inscriptions and heraldry on the four faces
Reading the surroundings
Use public routes with care on steep or uneven paving. Keep entrances clear and do not climb historic structures.
What we know — and what remains uncertain
The cross remains Category A listed. Its separate scheduled status was removed in May 2016; older appraisals describing both designations are out of date.
Sources & further reading
- Historic Environment Scotland: LB24000 — Designation, grid point, architectural phases and qualifications; historical description, not a fresh survey.
- Trove: Culross Market Cross — National archive identity and historic views of the cross and its setting.
Location
OS grid reference NS 98683 85948 · Location confidence: HES national-grid point converted to WGS84; approximate location, not an entrance or boundary. · Select the marker to open its satellite view in Google Maps. On desktop, drag Pegman (the yellow figure) onto a blue road. On mobile, turn on the Street View layer and tap a blue road. Other photo markers may be user-contributed.
Suggest a marker correction
Suggest a more accurate position
The teal marker is the current published position. The orange marker starts slightly to its right so both remain visible; this is only a visual starting position. Tap the correct place on the map or drag the orange marker. Sending this form creates a private review entry only; it does not move the published marker.
Check this area in Google Maps Choose the Satellite layer there if useful.
Map: © OpenStreetMap contributors. You can also enter checked coordinates below.