The Building of the Cathedral
The Norse Cathedral
The Usage of the Cathedral in History
The Usage of the Cathedral Today
The Art of the Cathedral
Behind the Scenes in the Cathedral
Famous Orcadians & Others With Links
Yellow sandstone - SMC050
The bulk of the sandstone used in the Construction of St Magnus Cathedral is red but the yellow sandstone provides a distinctive contrast.
The yellow sandstone is believed to have been quarried on Eday, one of Orkney's Northern Isles. This stone was then carried by boat and landed very close to the cathedral.
Sandstone is prone to heavy weathering and the Orcadian climate has eroded much of the original external stonework.