Edinburgh Royal Mile / Mercat Cross (#0457)

Next to St. Giles, the structure with the tower is the Mercat (Market) Cross. While there has been a market (mercat) cross in this general location since 1365, this particular cross dates back to 1885 but apparently contains components of the earlier crosses.

In Scotland in general, and apparently so in Edinburgh, the mercat cross was important as a central location for announcements, proclamations, and…. torture and hanging.

Source: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mercat_Cross,_Edinburgh

(Part of a documentation of 2018 exploration/reflection on Brexit and populist movements in Europe, keyword Europe2018)