A granite shaft and lion rise from an octagonal podium at the civic heart of Portree.
Quick facts
- Date
- Erected after the First World War; later names added
- Architect / designer
- Designer not identified in the designation
- Type
- Mercat-cross-form war memorial with lion finial
- Designation
- Listed building, Category B (LB13926)
- OS grid reference
- NG 48213 43627
Architecture and continuing use
Raised steps carry an octagonal podium and tall grey-granite shaft. The crowning lion gives the memorial a heraldic silhouette derived from the traditional form of a Scottish mercat cross.
Its story
Created to commemorate local service and loss in the First World War, the monument also carries later commemorative names. Its position in Somerled Square keeps remembrance within everyday civic life.
Why it is included
The memorial unites national commemoration with a specifically Scottish civic form and provides an important focus within Portree’s main square.
What to notice
- Octagonal steps and podium.
- Transition from broad base to slender granite shaft.
- Lion finial seen against the surrounding roofs.
Reading the surroundings
The memorial is in public open space. Approach carefully across the square, keep clear during ceremonies and do not climb the steps or structure.
Timeline
- Erected after the First World War Created to commemorate local service and loss in the First World War, the monument also carries later commemorative names. Its position in Somerled Square keeps remembrance within everyday civic life.
- Present Public commemorative monument.
What we know — and what remains uncertain
The brief statutory description does not identify the designer or full commissioning history; those points remain open for further local research.
Sources & further reading
- Historic Environment Scotland: Portree War Memorial, LB13926 — Designation status, mapped location, construction phases, fabric, authorship and architectural or historical interest.
- War Memorials Online: Portree — Memorial identity, inscriptions, condition reporting and public location.
Location
OS grid reference NG 48213 43627 · Location confidence: High: the statutory designation supplies an official mapped National Grid Reference and the current source confirms the Place relationship or present identity. · 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.
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