8Q CoNr'EKNING THE MAEKET CKOSS. 



beautiful haud-wrought iron "ravel" showiug to advantage, a 

 scene iaapres.siv^e and picturesque such as probably few persons 

 living- have had the privilege of witnessing ^in the town. The 

 proceedings on this occasion had the effect of rousing curiosity 

 regarding the situation and form of the ancient Market Cross of 

 the burgh ; and the purpose of this paper is to submit such in- 

 formation on the subject as is readily available, and to stimulate 

 further inquiry. 



THE FISH CROSS. 



Freijuent reference is made in titles of property and other 

 papers to the Cross of Dumfries ; also the Fish Cross, in regard 

 to which a word or two in passing may not be out of place. 

 There is some reason for supposing that the Fish Cross stood 

 at one time opposite the end of English Street, where the 

 Fountain is now. A property in the Southergate is described in 

 the titles, dated 1802, as being situated a little below the " Old 

 Fish Cross," implying- that the Cross was near the Southergate, 

 and that a new Cross had l)y this time been erected at another 

 place. Laterly, its site was a few yards south of the Midsteeple, 

 at or near a well called '* The Fish Cross Well," still existing 

 under the street, and marked by a cross formed in the pavement. 

 The Fish Cross is said to have beei* built about 1G40. In 16G2 

 the Council enacted that all red fish that come to the towne sal! 

 be presented to the Fish Croce wholly undivided, under the pain 

 of confiscation for the poor's use. On 9th October, 1738, a 

 committee of the Town Council was appointed to visit and 

 consider the condition of the Fish Croce, cause repair or rebuild 

 the same in the shape it is now in, or in such other form as they 

 shall think proper, and to cause erect a post yrin. for fixing a 

 lamp. Its latest form is said to have been a large round stone 

 table on which the fish were laid out and exposed for sale. It 

 was finally removed in 1831. I am indebted to Miss Richardson, 

 Shakespeare Street, for permission to exhibit a drawing of High 

 Street, belonging to her. It shows a pillar over a table base, at 

 the place where the Fish Cross stood. Although evidently the 

 work of an amateur, the drawing, so far as the street and build- 

 ings are concerned, is fairly correct, but in regard to the Cross, 

 the base appears hai'dly adapted to support the pillar or for the 

 purpose of receiving the fish. 



