St Gilbert and the Cathedral
If you visit Dornoch, the most notable feature of this beautiful village is the compact but stunning St Gilbert's Cathedral. This was both the physical and spiritual centre of Dornoch for centuries.
The building of the Cathedral was began the same year that Gilbert de Movaria (anglicised to Murray) was made the Bishop of Caithness in 1224. Gilbert was quick to move the seat of the diocese from Halkirk, an area where historically his family found much conflict and death, to Dornoch, which was bang in the middle of land he personally owned, as well as being practically next door to his cousin in Golspie.
However the building that we see today in the village centre is not what Gilbert himself would have seen. The original was completed nearly 800 years ago, just shortly after Gilbert's death in 1245. In the centuries since, it has had several make-overs, either through expansion or destruction.
Local clan feuds resulted in an attempt to set the cathedral aflame in 1567. But worse came 3 years later, when conflict between the Earls of Sutherland and the Earls of Caithness saw Caithness send his allies, Mackay of Strathnaver and Sutherland of Duffus and their men to sack the village. The roof of the cathedral was burnt down completely and the tomb of St Gilbert was destroyed, leaving the cathedral in utter ruin.
In 1622, the cathedral was partly rebuilt by Sir Robert Gordon, only for it to fall to ruin once again shortly after in the 1650's during the Civil war between the Royalists and the Puritans. 1710's to the 1730's sees the cathedral rebuild, only for disaster to strike a third time! Jacobites in the 1745 uprising briefly occupy Dornoch and supposedly use the cathedral to stable their horses while they damage important buildings in the village. 1769 and the cathedral is once again a ruin. For the final time the cathedral is rebuilt in the 1770's, and aside from some upgrades here and there, is the same building you now see today.
St Gilbert's cathedral has a long and brutal history, but did you know that the first time it was under threat was when it was still being build? And by a dragon no less! But that's a post for another time.
Tìoraidh!
