St. Magnus Cathedral, Kirkwall dominates the skyline of Kirkwall, the main town of Orkney, a group of islands off the north coast of mainland Scotland. Construction began in 1137, it was added to over the next three hundred years to become the most northerly cathedral in Britain. A fine example of Romanesque architecture built for the bishops of Orkney when the islands were ruled by the Norse Earls of Orkney. It is owned not by the church, but by the burgh of Kirkwall as a result of an act of King James III of Scotland following Orkney's annexation by the Scottish Crown in 1468.


Size: 3768px × 3568px
Location: St Magnus Cathedral, Broad Street, Kirkwall, UK
Photo credit: © De Luan / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

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