Lakes and deserts

There are two beautifully contrasting colours of Devonian sandstone in St Magnus Cathedral in Kirkwall in Orkney. Both are 380 million years old in their current form.

Sandstone - St Magnus Cathedral - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

The brown sandstone, which can be quite yellow in parts and darker brown in others, was originally the mud in Lake Orcadie, a massive inland basin into which rivers ran. The red sandstone was originally desert sand, just like the Sahara.

St Magnus Cathedral was founded in 1102 by Vikings. I don’t know how old these pillars are, but one’s certainly seen more weathering than its compatriot.

More St Magnus Cathedral

Kirkwall at dawn - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the) Kirkwall at dawn I've just woken up in a Viking city. A city which is only part of the UK, and not Norway,… read more
Carving in St Magnus Cathedral - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the) A smile on their face The woodcarver who made this pair of birds in St Magnus Cathedral had a smile on their face. They look… read more
Hinges at St Magnus Cathedral - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the) Hinges on St Magnus Cathedral I love these ornate hinges on the doors to St Magnus Cathedral in Kirkwall. read more
Saint Olaf - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (to the) Saint Olaf in St Magnus Cathedral In life Saint Olaf was a violent and brutal warlord; a killer Viking who lived 1,000 years ago. Yet he's… read more
Longship in St Magnus Cathedral - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the) A Viking Longship in St Magnus Cathedral Here's a magnificent Viking longship in stained glass in St Magnus Cathedral. Viking longships were ships of war and built… read more
Walking down the aisle - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the) Walking down the aisle A view down the aisle at St Magnus Cathedral in Kirkwall. read more
Timothy - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the) Timothy – the patron saint of stomach disorders In St Magnus Cathedral there is a wonderful stained glass window of Saint Timothy, the patron saint of intestinal and… read more
Cross bones - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the) Cross-bones and a cross-looking skull The graves in St Magnus Cathedral are fascinating. What caught my eye with this carving is the anatomically correct cross-bones,… read more

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