St Magnus

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Aug 252011
 
St Magnus

St Magnus Cathedral in Kirkwall is magnificent. It’s origins are in Viking times, when Orkney was ruled by Viking Earls. It’s the best preserved medieval cathedral in Scotland with massive Norman pillars built by the masons of Durham Cathedral. Towering above the Kirkwall landscape, St. Magnus Cathedral, with its distinctive sandstone hues, is one of [...]

 Posted by the HALL of EINAR at 8:54 pm  Tagged with: ,

Who was Einar and why is my house named after him? #2

 External Links - Orkney, the HALL of EINAR  No Responses »
Aug 302010
 

According to the Orkneyinga Saga, detailing the lives of the Earls of Orkney from the 9th to 12th Centuries, King Harald’s sons were real troublemakers. Gudron Gleam and Halfdan Long-Leg caused lots of trouble in Norway and then killed Earl Rögnvald of Møre, the father of Einar, Earl of Orkney. Einar lived between the 890s [...]

 Posted by the HALL of EINAR at 7:54 pm  Tagged with: , , , , , , ,

A History of the Earls of Orkney

 External Links - Orkney, External Links - Westray  No Responses »
Aug 072010
 

When travelling to Orkney I always try to bring a copy of The Orkneyinga Saga with me. Westray is so full of ancient history, with its burnt mounds and perfectly preserved neolithic settlements that the time of the Vikings seems relatively recent. This is especially so since many Westray islanders can claim direct descent from [...]

 Posted by the HALL of EINAR at 8:47 pm  Tagged with: ,
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