Kirkwall again

Opposite the cathedral are the Earl’s and Bishops’ Palaces. The Bishops’ palace was built in the 12C for the resident bishop and then incorporated into the Earl’s palace, built in the 17C by Patrick Stewart, 2nd Earl of Orkney (son of Robert Stewart who built the palace in Birsay.) He started off living in the Bishops’ Palace but decided it wasn’t big enough and started building another palace next door. Unfortunately, he didn’t own the land so he set the owner up to be charged with murder and had him executed. He and his son were eventually executed for treason.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patrick_Stewart,_2nd_Earl_of_Orkney

The ruins of the Earl’s Palace
Window with musket port
Now that’s what I call a fireplace.
Inside the palace

Kirkwall Cathedral

Dedicated to St Magnus, Orkney’s own saint.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magnus_Erlendsson,_Earl_of_Orkney

Side view of the cathedral
17C gravestone
The pillar where St Magnus’ remains were found. They have been returned there.
There was a flower festival on
The altar – note Viking longship
Viking knight model. Made to be installed higher up which is why it looks attenuated.
Memorial to the sailors who died in the Royal Oak.
The cathedral.
There are four of these attached to the main pillars at the crossing in the cathedral. Rumour has it that they were put in by Cromwell’s men to attach their horses to.
17C death memorial.
John Rea’s tomb (see page on Stromness)

Random extras

Self evident
Church in Thurso.
The library in Thurso
Sign on Thurso railway station
Across the Flow Country on the train. Flow = floi in Old Norse = bog.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flow_Country

Tudorbethan railway station at Dunrobin Castle. The castle sounds like it’s worth a visit.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunrobin_Castle

The Station Hotel in Inverness. Scottish Baronial with tartan carpet!

On my personal tour of Rousay we saw a Great Skua. Very VERY rare bird.

I got home eventually – hot and bothered and very late. The sleeper went OK – except for when the toilets wouldn’t flush as we were coming into Euston. Ho hum.

One thought on “Kirkwall again”

  1. You’ve packed at lot into this tour. I have to admit that I didn’t take to the Flow Country, at least the parts the train went through…flat and bleak and the ‘fences’ made from upright slate slabs looked dark and sharp edged. However, the cathedral in Kirkwall is intriguing and definitely worth the visit. Now you can enjoy being home and presumably back to a slightly warmer clime. Thanks for sharing.

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