War Memorial, St Magnus Cathedral, Kirkwall

War Memorial at St Magnus Cathedral, Kirkwall

St Magnus Cathedral is a cruciform-plan cathedral begun in 1137, with Norman, Romanesque and Gothic features dating from the 12th, 13th and later centuries. It was renovated in 1800, 1848, 1893 and 1913–1930. The cathedral is constructed of red and yellow sandstone ashlar and rubble with polished dressings.

The building is divided by full-height piers with moulded angles and large cylindrical and fluted conical-capped pinnacles. The gabled north and south transepts have similar pinnacles flanking them. A central square-plan tower rises at the crossing, topped with an octagonal spire. Chapel bays project to the east of each transept. The exterior features a base course with various string and cill courses that run continuously as hood moulds over some openings. The aisles, nave and transepts have corbelled parapets, except the north side of the nave where inverted fleur-de-lys decoration is used in place of corbelling. Shouldered buttresses divide the aisle bays.

The openings throughout have round and pointed arches with multiple mouldings, some incorporating chevron and dog-tooth decoration, with nook-shafts. Many feature alternating bands of red and yellow stone. Stone tracery, mullions and transoms are used throughout. Rose windows grace the east end and south transept. Decorative cast-iron strapwork hinges adorn the doors.

The tower displays a corbelled parapet with three gabletted openings and two outshot drainage gargoyles to each face. Multi-moulded pointed-arched louvered double windows with nook-shafts appear to each face. Trefoil-headed openings with crocketed gables are arranged on alternating sides of the spire. A weather-vane crowns the top.

West Elevation: The entrance elevation is arranged in three bays. Stone steps lead to a shallow gabled entrance at ground level in the central bay, featuring multiple nook-shafts supporting a multi-moulded pointed arch with a two-leaf boarded door and a pointed-arched traceried window above. A small window with a crucifix finial tops the gable. Smaller similar doorpieces with single boarded doors flank each aisle bay, each with a small trefoil-headed window above.

East Elevation: A multi-moulded four-centred arch with flanking nook-shafts spans a rose window over a tall four-light window in the central bay. An oculus with a fleur-de-lys finial crowns the gable above. Windows appear in each aisle bay flanking, with a small round-arched window set close to the centre gable above.

North Elevation: The north side comprises 15 bays arranged in groups of 5, 1, 1 and 8 from left to right (east to west). A single-bay gabled three-stage transept is set left of centre, with windows at the first and second stages and a double window at the third, topped by an oculus with a finial. Windows at each stage with small windows flanking appear in the left return. A single-bay gabled rectangular-plan chapel with a window to its gablehead stands in the left return, with windows to its north and east elevations. The five-bay group to the left has a window in each aisle bay. A corbelled polygonal wallhead stack rises between bays three and four from the left. Six windows light the nave clerestory above. The eight-bay group to the right features narrow trefoil-headed windows in bays one and two from the right. A diamond recess surmounts a shallow round-arched multi-moulded doorpiece with flanking nook-shafts in bay three, fitted with two-leaf boarded doors bearing decorative strapwork hinges. Windows appear in each remaining bay to the left, with corresponding clerestory windows above. Two evenly disposed gabletted boarded roof-access doors are set behind the parapet.

South Elevation: The south side comprises 15 bays arranged in groups of 8, 1, 1 and 5 from left to right. A single-bay four-stage gabled transept is offset right of centre. A round-arched multi-moulded doorpiece with flanking nook-shafts at ground level is fitted with two-leaf boarded doors bearing decorative strapwork hinges. Windows appear at stages two and three. A large rose window occupies the fourth stage, crowned by a large oculus with a finial. Windows at each floor with small windows flanking appear in the left return. A single-bay gabled chapel with a window to its gablehead stands in the left return, with windows in its south and east elevations. The five-bay group to the right has a single nook-shaft to a pointed-arched doorpiece at ground level in the central bay, fitted with a boarded door and a round arch spanning a two-light window above. Windows appear in each remaining aisle bay and each clerestory nave bay. A gabletted boarded roof-access door is set behind a blocking course to the left above. The eight-bay group to the left has a trapezoidal-headed doorpiece with flanking nook-shafts and boarded door at ground level in bay three from the left. Narrow trefoil-headed windows appear in bays one and two from the left. Windows appear in each remaining aisle bay and clerestory bay. Two evenly disposed gabletted boarded roof-access doors are set behind the parapet above.

The roof is covered with traditional graded stone tiles with stone ridges, skews and copes. Cast-iron rainwater goods are installed throughout. The windows throughout feature stained glass with leaded lights, stone mullions, transoms and traceried astragals.

Interior: The nave is lined with cylindrical columns supporting a round-arched eight-bay colonnade. A round-arched triforium sits below the clerestory. The nave ceiling is ribbed and vaulted, with ribbed vaulted aisles flanking. An interlaced Norman blind arcade decorates the south aisle and transepts. The choir, six bays in length and earlier in date, and the chancel similarly feature ribbed vaulted ceilings with ribbed vaulted flanking aisles. The transepts have timber barrel vaulting. Chapel projections extend eastward from each transept division. An interlaced Norman blind arcade surrounds the north, south and west sides of the transept. Wide stone turnpike stairwells at the northwest and southwest angles of the transept provide access to upper levels. Mural passages run around the triforium and clerestory. Smaller stone turnpike stairwells occupy each angle of the tower.

A timber-panelled and intricately carved vestibule surrounds the west entrance door with similarly carved side door surrounds. An octagonal timber pulpit with intricate carving stands at the northeast pier of the crossing, topped with an oversailing octagonal sounding board featuring pinnacled cresting. A timber-panelled, intricately carved and pierced stepped rood screen spans the chancel with various statues and a central crucifix. Similarly carved and pierced screens span the choir aisles. Carved timber choir stalls feature terminal angels and various heads to their seat dividers.

Numerous medieval and later tombstones are mounted on the nave walls. A 14th-century arched tomb with a tall pediment stands in the south aisle of the nave. Various statues include 16th-century effigies of St Magnus, the Norwegian King Olaf and John Rae, the Arctic explorer who died in 1893. An original stone mercat cross, dated 1621, is preserved within the cathedral. Stained glass leaded windows throughout feature varied designs.

Graveyard: The graveyard contains a variety of wall-mounted and free-standing headstones, obelisks and raised stone sarcophagi, many dating from the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries.

Boundary Walls and Railings: Roughly coursed rubble walls with ridged ashlar cope run around the perimeter. Regularly disposed wide coped piers punctuate the boundary. Replacement cast-iron railings with regular fleur-de-lys-headed shafts have been installed.

War Memorial: The war memorial was erected in 1923. It comprises a gateway to the graveyard at the northwest with single nook-shafts supporting a moulded round arch. Integral flanking shouldered piers bear World War I dates within wreaths above the names of the deceased. A stepped pediment above carries an inscription and is surmounted by an angel statue. Later detached square-plan capped piers flank the gateway, bearing World War II dates within wreaths above the names of the deceased. Two-leaf wrought and cast-iron gates complete the memorial.