ruins the bishop palace and cemetery saint magnus cathedral kirkwall orkney islands

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Ruins of the Bishop`s Palace and cemetery at Saint Magnus cathedral, Kirkwall, Orkney Islands Royalty Free Stock Photo

Ruins of the Bishop`s Palace and cemetery at Saint Magnus cathedral, Kirkwall, Orkney Islands

Saint Magnus Cathedral dominates the skyline of Kirkwall, the main town of Orkney, an archipelago off the north coast of mainland Scotland. St. Magnus is the most northerly cathedral in Britain. The Romanesque cathedral begun in 1137 has fine examples of Norman architecture. The first bishop was William the Old, and the diocese was under the authority of the Archbishop of Nidaros in Norway. It was for Bishop William that the nearby Bishop`s Palace was built. King Haakon IV of Norway, overwintering after his defeat at the Battle of Largs, died here in December 1263, marking the end of Norse rule over the Outer Hebrides. The palace fell into ruins, then after 1540 was restored by Bishop Robert Reid who added a round tower, the `Moosie Toor`.