Early morning Peebles

The 15th century Mercat Cross and the spire of the Eastgate Theatre stand against the early morning background of a Peebles sky.

At the Mercat Cross the public market was held, the Town Drummer announced royal and other proclamations to the people of the Burgh and criminals were punished.

The Cross of Peebles is an unusual design. The capital of the octagonal stone column has rich carvings of the Three Fishes and of strawberries (taken from the family crest of the Frasers of Neidpath). In 1662 the four-faced stone sundial and metal wind vane were added to mark the restoration to the throne of Charles II.