View from SSE showing SSW and ESE fronts of church with part of graveyard in foreground

Description View from SSE showing SSW and ESE fronts of church with part of graveyard in foreground

Date 23/8/1894

Collection Papers of Erskine Beveridge, antiquarian, Dunfermline, Fife, Scotland

Catalogue Number SC 746786

Category On-line Digital Images

Copy of O 588

Scope and Content St Magnus Cathedral, Broad Street, Kirkwall, Mainland, Orkney Islands, from the south St Magnus Cathedral, founded c.1130, is the grandest and largest building in Orkney, not only dominating the town of Kirkwall but also acting as a landmark from the sea. Despite an extended building period over four centuries, it is remarkably homogeneous in its design, with striking parallels with two other major churches, Durham Cathedral and Dunfermline Abbey in Fife. Erskine Beveridge photographed the exterior in 1894. The church, constructed with rich red sandstone quarried near Kirkwall and yellow stone from Eday, is cruciform, with a mid-12th-century aisled choir at the east end (right) which was probably used as the original church. The south transept (centre) also dates from the mid-12th century, but was remodelled and heightened in the course of the building programme, and its small chapel, butted against the lower east face, is early 13th century. The crossing tower was rebuilt c.1200, although its belfry stage, with tall, arched openings, dates from the early 14th century. Its squat pyramidal roof gave way to a Gothic, copper-covered spike in 1916. Magnus of Orkney, son of Erling, joint ruler of the Orkney islands, was killed in 1116 on the island of Egilsay when pressing his claim to half the kingdom. This claim was revived by his nephew, Rognvald, in 1129, and he gained control over the whole kingdom the following year. Almost immediately, Rognvald decided to move the site of the cathedral church of Orkney from Birsay to Kirkwall, and to dedicate the new building to his uncle who was known for his virtue and piety. Both Magnus and Rognvald are buried in the cathedral. Source: RCAHMS contribution to SCRAN.

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