Marketplace

About Marketplace

This was the centre of the Burgh's social and economic life. Here traders would come from all over Scotland and even the continent to sell goods. A Mercat Cross once stood here, its position marked by a plaque set in the middle of the road. In a law passed by King William I (1165-1214) it was a requirement that all goods for sale in Burghs be presented at the “mercat and mercat cross”. Mercat crosses signified the trading status of a town or village and served additional functions as sites of proclamations and punishment.Weekly markets were held on Mondays and Fridays, although this was changed in 1639 to Tuesday and Friday to stop people having to travel on a Sunday. The Cross was removed in the 19th century as part of the ‘improvements’ carried out to the town. The former location of the cross is marked by a circular panel set in the street, which is still used as the start point for the Jedburgh Handba’ game.
Also set in the ground of Market Place is a plaque marking the position of a tower which once stood here, the Kirkwynd Tower, which guarded the approach to the Abbey from Market Place. The first official record of the tower is in 1551 but it may have pre-dated this. By 1787, the tower was in a dangerous condition and roofless, finally being demolished in 1791.
Notice the Jubilee Fountain of 1899, built to celebrate the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Victoria. This is an ornamental gothic column, which is topped by a unicorn -the Heraldic supporter of the Royal Scottish Arms -holding the Burgh shield. There are cast iron lamp fittings grouped around the top of the column.