Mercat Cross, South Street, Houston is a Grade B listed building in the Renfrewshire local planning authority area, Scotland. First listed on 10 June 1971. Monument.

Mercat Cross, South Street, Houston

WRENN ID
hidden-solder-spring
Grade
B
Local Planning Authority
Renfrewshire
Constituency
Inverclyde and Renfrewshire West MP: Martin McCluskey (Lab)
Country
Scotland
Date first listed
10 June 1971
Type
Monument
OS grid reference
NS 405 669
Coordinates
55.86902, -4.55006
Source
Historic Environment Scotland listing

Also on this page: flood risk · radon risk · weather exposure · detailed attributes ↓

Description

The Mercat Cross in South Street, Houston, is a notable structure likely dating back to the 14th century, featuring a stepped plinth. The headpiece, dated 1713, has a square-plan chamfered shaft and a square headpiece that displays sundial markings and gnomons on each face, topped with a ball finial. The entire cross is set on a three-stepped base.

Local climate

Mercat Cross, South Street, Houston sits in one of the wettest parts of the UK, with an average of 1,490 mm of rain a year. This makes it wetter than 98% of listed buildings in the UK. Its exposure to wind-driven rain is greater than that of 92% of listed buildings.

It experiences an average of 47 freeze-thaw cycles a year, more than 89% of listed buildings. Of these, 26 follow at least 1 mm of rain in the preceding 48 hours. Average temperatures at this location have risen by 0.3°C per decade since 1991.

Averages for 1991–2020; temperature trend 1991–2025. Figures describe the wider area (a grid cell of roughly 10 km), not the individual site. Contains modified Copernicus Climate Change Service information 2026.

More on this building

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