During the 16th and early 17th century, the Salt Tron – the
weighing beam and public house that stood where the Tron
Kirk was later constructed – was one of a selected handful
of key locations which repeatedly enjoyed a central role in
public ceremonies. In striking opposition to its utilitarian, everyday commercial identity, the Salt Tron area became
the location for the staging of fantastical spectacles, where
performers impersonating mythological figures, historical
heroes, or celebrated ancestors amazed the crowds, accompanied by skilled musicians and often in eye-catching
settings. An analysis of the various events staged at the Salt
Tron by the civic authorities to publicly celebrate the
successes of the Stewart monarchs, reveals the richness of
the cultural life in Edinburgh at this time, and the
complexity of the relationship between town and Crown. It
also establishes the remarkable importance of the Salt Tron
area to debate and display the burgh’s identity and
aspirations, both in everyday circumstances and during
exceptional public events.