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)](https://www.thehallofeinar.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Sandstone-St-Magnus-Cathedral-The-Hall-of-Einar-3204-483x725.jpg)
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)](https://www.thehallofeinar.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/Kirkwall-at-dawn-The-Hall-of-Einar-2-200x300.jpg)
![Carving in St Magnus Cathedral - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)](https://www.thehallofeinar.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/IMG_1286-3-300x300.jpg)
![Hinges at St Magnus Cathedral - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)](https://www.thehallofeinar.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/810_5645-300x200.jpg)
![Saint Olaf - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (to the)](https://www.thehallofeinar.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/IMG_1290-3-300x300.jpg)
![Longship in St Magnus Cathedral - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)](https://www.thehallofeinar.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/810_5674-200x300.jpg)
![Timothy - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)](https://www.thehallofeinar.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/810_5670-300x200.jpg)
![Cross bones - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)](https://www.thehallofeinar.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/IMG_1364-300x300.jpg)