Skip to main content
 

THE MEERKAT 

CROSSES OF SCOTLAND EVENING LECTURE

Monday, 14th October

19:00 – 20:30


 
 
 
 
Join RSC Member Roddy Martine and his co-author Charles Kinder Bradbury, who will take us on an entertaining journey through Scotland, visiting its Mercat Crosses dotted around the country
 
 

TIME & LOCATION



Date and time: Oct 14th, 2024 from 7-8:30 PM

Location: The Princess Royal Suite, 29 Abercromby Place, EH3 6QE
Ticket type
Price

Club Member
N/A
General Admission
£5.00



 
 

ABOUT THE LECTURE

From imposing structures such as those of Edinburgh and Aberdeen, to simpler versions such as that of Scone, many of these Crosses date from the Middle Ages, or earlier. They have been, or in some cases still are, centres of life in all its forms, including market and trading places, and venues for proclamations and punishment. 

Please note, this lecture is taking place in the Princess Royal Suite located on Level B3.

 
 

ABOUT THE AUTHORS

Roddy Martine, who lives in Edinburgh, is the author of thirty-two books: they include *Scottish Clan & Family Names – Their Arms, Origins & Tartans *(1987); The Shell Guide to the South of Scotland (1989); Scotland, The Land and the Whisky (1994); Secrets of Rosslyn (2006); Clans & Tartans of Scotland (2022); and Demarco’s Edinburgh (2023). In addition to having been a columnist with five national newspapers during the 1990s, he has edited several life-style publications including Scottish Field and Scotland Magazine. For his involvement with the Scotch Whisky Industry as Editor of The Keeper Magazine, he was made a Master of the Quaich in 2006.

Dr Charles Kinder Bradbury is a retired industrial chemist and an assiduous author and publisher. He is a past winner of the DTI Smart Award for Innovation, Stages I and II. He has a doctorate in Chemistry (2012) from the University of York, and for 22 years he ran his own chemical company in Fife, where he now resides. He has written, co-authored or edited six books in Braykc Publishing’s Heritage Series, notably Carnegie Heritage (2021). The present book represents a departure from this Series, not only because of the smaller format, but because humour through caricatures is a key component.

 
 

FOREWORD FROM THE BOOK

by Dr Joseph J Morrow, CVO, CBE, QC, FRSE: The Rt Hon Lord Lyon King of Arms

I am delighted to see the publication of this book, “The Meerkat Crosses of Scotland”, which captures an often-forgotten part of the architecture of our towns and cities. The “Mercat Cross” has in fact long been a very significant construction and centre of what might be called the ‘social media’ of its time. The Proclamation of a new monarch was done in many communities through this structure by those who were charged to perform that task. In September 2022, I was honoured to make the proclamation for King Charles Ill at the Mercat Cross in Edinburgh.

The Mercat Crosses are often freestanding pillars with a platform and would draw crowds in times gone by and even today, and they were also used in the past to administer the punishment of offenders. For centuries the Mercat Crosses have been at the centre of how social messages were sent out to many different parts of our communities. It is a wonderful thing that they continue to fulfil this function today.

The Mercat Cross is still alive and is being used to create history in our present day, and the stories that surround these structures will continue to bring life to those who visit them and to the events they have witnessed. There are so many good examples of Mercat Crosses to share, and the authors of this book have employed a fresh and most appropriately contemporary way to share their knowledge with the wider community, bringing the subject to our attention by using the well-known media figure of the Meerkat.

Congratulations to all the authors for their hard work and imagination in producing this book. It will engage many through its text and illustrations and will contribute to our increasing knowledge of the history of our communities. I believe the style of this book to be inspired and that it will help future generations to understand the significance of Mercat Crosses. Well done to the authors!

 
 

ABOUT THE PUBLISHER

**Braykc Publishing **is an independent organisation, specialising in high quality illustrated books with a focus on historical heritage.

I encourage you to have a look at their other publications, one of which was featured in an evening lecture here at the Club in February 2024.

Brothers of Steell: https://www.braykcpublishing.com/Steell.htm

Carnegie Heritage: https://www.braykcpublishing.com/Carnegie.htm

*Tales from the Chemistry Lounge: *https://www.braykcpublishing.com/Convenery

The Incorporated Trades of Edinburgh: https://www.braykcpublishing.com/Trades

*Stewart Heritage: *https://www.braykcpublishing.com/Stewart

Bradbury Heritage: https://www.braykcpublishing.com/Bradbury

 
 

RELATED EVENT

 

CELEBRATE CHRISTMAS

AT THE CLUB

Visit our dedicated Christmas page and see all that’s on offer this festive season!


 
 

OUR EVENTS

07
Feb

Captain’s Table: February

The Captain’s Table is a monthly Royal Scots Club luncheon where members and their guests can get together and enjoy good food, great conversation and mingle with other members and their guests.

Member only event

View event
08
Feb

Six Nations Scotland Screenings at The Royal Scots Club

Join us for all the Scotland Six Nations matches in 2025! View the event page to see the specific timings and screening rooms. Open to Members and their guests in The Underground Bar.

Member only event

View event
13
Feb

The Big Valentine’s Jazz Night

Join us this year for our Big Band Valentines Jazz Evening and Dinner. We will be welcoming back The Edinburgh University Jazz Orchestra (EUJO), the University’s official Big Band, and one of the best in Edinburgh! The 17-piece Jazz Orchestra is renowne


View event
17
Feb

ST. BERNARD’S Crescent: A History

Mr Ken Swinton will give a lecture & Q&A about his book, ‘St Bernard’s Crescent: A History hosted’ by RSC Member Graham Ogilvy, Managing Editor at Scottish Legal News.


View event
26
Feb

Quiz Night in Aid of Alzheimer Scotland

Join us for a fun filled quiz evening at The Royal Scots Club in aid of Alzheimer Scotland.


View event
03
Mar

Dr Sara Lodge: The Mysterious Case of the Victorian Female Detective




View event
17
Mar

Paul Tweed: International Libel Lawyer to the Rich and Famous




View event
19
Mar

Scottish Harp Concert with Alison Kinnaird

Join us on 19th March for an evening of Scottish Harp music played by RSC Member Alison Kinnaird.


View event
30
Mar

Mothers Day Lunch

Treat your mum to a delicious three-course lunch with tea/coffee in our beautiful Abercromby Dining Room for just £28 per person. Book a table of four and mum eats free.* Tables will be available between 12:00 and 14:00 on Sunday 30th March 2025.  *On

Member only event

View event
07
Apr

By Land, Sea and Air: The Development of UK Armed Services

Join RSC Member Tony Bray this April to explore the development of our armed services.


View event
24
May

WWII Bombing of Edinburgh: Interactive Luncheon & Exhibition

RSC Members and their guests are invited to join author and ex-senior police officer Tom Wood this May for a World War 2 ‘ration’ luncheon and exhibition in The Royal Scots Club’s Hepburn Suite.


View event
13
Sep

The Road to Mons Graupius: A Journey Through Roman Scotland

Join Alan Montgomery, Author of The Road to Mons Graupius: A Journey Through Roman Scotland for a Book Signing and Coffee Morning on Sat, 13th Sept.


View event

 
 

WE WOULD LOVE TO

KEEP IN TOUCH

Keep up to date with our news, events, vacancies and projects by signing up to our newsletter below.